US Envoy Confirms India-US Trade Deal Close To Final Agreement

The United States has said that negotiations on a long-awaited India-US bilateral trade agreement are nearing completion, with only a “handful of issues” remaining before the deal can be finalised. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor indicated that discussions between the two countries have progressed rapidly and are now focused primarily on finalising the legal text of the agreement. The statement comes as both sides work towards concluding the first phase of a broader trade framework.

In an exclusive interview with IANS at the White House, Gor said negotiators from both countries are now fine-tuning the language of the agreement, which he described as the final stage of the process. He noted that he had recently participated in high-level meetings in New Delhi with US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. According to him, those discussions were highly productive and helped narrow down outstanding issues.

Gor said that while several complex points remain, the bulk of the work now revolves around drafting mutually acceptable legal wording. He expressed confidence that the agreement could be concluded within the next few weeks or months, depending on how quickly the remaining issues are resolved. He added that the pace of negotiations has been unusually fast compared to other major international trade agreements.

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Providing context on the timeline, Gor said the India-US trade deal has been under negotiation for about 18 months, which he described as relatively short compared to other long-pending agreements, such as the European Union trade framework that has remained unresolved for years. He said both governments are now working toward a mutually beneficial outcome and declined to disclose specific details of the proposed agreement, stating that the final text would be revealed only once completed.

Gor also commented on the broader bilateral relationship, saying that trade discussions are part of a wider strategic partnership between India and the United States. He noted that President Donald Trump remains interested in visiting India following recent discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in France, although no formal dates have been announced. He said scheduling is subject to the US midterm election calendar and domestic priorities.

The India-US economic partnership has grown significantly in recent years, with both countries expanding cooperation across trade, defence, technology, energy, and education. Officials on both sides have described the proposed agreement as a key step toward deeper economic integration and strengthening strategic ties in the Indo-Pacific region. Negotiators are now expected to focus on final clearance and legal alignment before the deal can be formally signed.

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