Putting the negotiations in perspective, Gor said the India-US trade agreement had been under discussion for around 18 months, describing the progress as unusually fast.
India-US trade deal enters final stretch, only ‘handful of issues’ left: US Ambassador to India
India and the United States are nearing a bilateral trade agreement, with only a “handful of issues” left to be resolved, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said, adding that negotiators are now working on finalising the legal language before the deal is signed.
“A lot of it is the language that has to be written,” Gor said, referring to the remaining work on the agreement. “I was in those meetings, that was 48 hours ago, with (US Trade Representative) Ambassador Jamieson Greer in Delhi, and we met with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who’s a great friend of mine. It was very productive,” he said.
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“There’s a handful of issues that remain. A lot of it now is on the language that ultimately both sides will sign,” Gor added. “We’re confident that over the next few weeks, over the next few months, it’ll get done,” he said.
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In an interview with IANS at the White House, Gor said the agreement could be concluded in the coming weeks or months, highlighting the pace at which the negotiations have progressed compared with several other major trade agreements.
IANS Exclusive
Washington, US: When asked about the bottlenecks in the US-India trade deal, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor says, “A lot of it is, the language has to be written. I was in those meetings 48 hours ago with Greer in Delhi, and we met with Commerce Minister Piyush… pic.twitter.com/aG6DGgfxeY
— IANS (@ians_india) June 27, 2026
Putting the negotiations in perspective, Gor said the India-US trade agreement had been under discussion for around 18 months, describing the progress as unusually fast. “Look, to put it in perspective, we’ve been working on this deal for a year and a half,” he said. “The European Union deal, which is still not done, is 20 years. Everybody says, ‘Why is this taking so long?’ We’re on an incredible trajectory of getting it done,” Gor added.
While refusing to disclose details of the proposed agreement, Gor said both sides were working towards a deal that would serve mutual interests. “I don’t want to reveal too much. You’re going to have to wait and see,” he said.
“It’s one of those things when you find common ground, and we’re able to identify things that are good for each side, that’s when the deal happens,” Gor added.
Gor also said President Donald Trump remained keen on visiting India after his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in France. “I don’t have exact dates yet,” Gor said. “I just left the President. I was with him for several hours in the Oval Office,” he added. “One of the things the President asked about is, ‘So when am I coming?’ He’s very keen to come. The Prime Minister invited him. I think that’ll happen at some point,” Gor said.
However, he said the US midterm election schedule had affected timelines, while stressing that India remained a priority. “We have midterms coming up here in the United States, so the President has a very hectic and busy schedule focusing on domestic travel. But with that said, India’s high on the list of places where he’ll visit soon,” he said.
IANS Exclusive
Washington, US: When asked about US President Donald Trump’s visit to India, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor says, “I don’t have exact dates yet, but I just left the President. I was with him for several hours in the Oval Office, which is probably 20 meters away… pic.twitter.com/SEPwMV7HYu
— IANS (@ians_india) June 27, 2026
Gor said the relationship between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained a strong foundation for bilateral ties despite speculation about differences. “I think we’re in a great place,” he said.
“One of the big anchors to that relationship is the relationship between the President and the Prime Minister that has always remained strong,” Gor added.
“The President and Prime Minister are great friends, and that’s something that goes back years ago, and it’s something that will continue to go years ahead,” he said.
India and the United States have been negotiating the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement aimed at expanding market access, reducing tariff barriers and strengthening economic cooperation. Both sides have described the pact as a priority before moving towards a broader trade framework.
The partnership between the two countries also covers defence, technology, critical and emerging technologies, energy, education and people-to-people ties, with economic cooperation emerging as a key pillar.
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