‘Fake News Alert’: Sergio Gor dismisses report of India rejecting US quick trade deal offer

US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, on Monday dismissed as “fake news” a news agency report claiming New Delhi rejected Washington’s offer for a quick trade deal.

Responding to the Reuters news report, Gor said that no one has rejected anything and that both sides had “very constructive meetings” to finalise a trade deal.

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“Fake news alert! No one has rejected anything. Both sides had very constructive meetings and reaffirmed their commitment to finalizing a trade deal. We continue to stay actively engaged. Reuters – you can do better!” Gor said in a direct response to the news report.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Piyush Goyal has also dismissed reports of a deadlock in the India-US trade talks, calling them “false, baseless and misleading”.

The report by Reuters news agency had claimed that “India rejected a quick trade agreement with the US in recent talks and is holding out for a better deal as Prime Minister Narendra Modi draws confidence from new trading partners, eased economic risks and political gains at home.”

However, Goyal said that he had held “fantastic meetings” with US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer during the latter’s visit to New Delhi in June, and reiterated that both countries remain committed to concluding a balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement.

“Our teams remain fully engaged in achieving this objective,” he added.