On June 29, 2026, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said a negotiated interim India‑US trade agreement is in its final phase, with only the “last 1–2 per cent” of issues remaining after nearly 18 months of talks, and expressed confidence the deal could be sealed soon. Speaking at the IX US‑India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, Gor said negotiators had completed the overwhelming majority of the pact and were now resolving a handful of outstanding items.
Gor told the summit that “Ambassador Greer visited us in New Delhi for two days and we are hopefully in the final steps of this deal. Most of this deal is complete and there are a few items that remain from both sides, but it is in the last 1–2 per cent.” He added, “I am determined to bring this to a close because this is beneficial to both sides.”
The proposed interim agreement is expected to cover tariffs, market access, agriculture, digital trade and customs procedures, and is framed as part of a broader effort to expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Gor cautioned observers to view the negotiation timeline in historical context, saying the process follows a long commercial relationship: “We’ve been at this for a year and a half. To put it into perspective, we’ve been trading for 20 years.”
Gor linked the push to finalise terms with an urgent window to conclude an accord before the expiry of a current pause on reciprocal tariffs announced by the administration of US President Donald Trump. He also sought to reassure US businesses considering investment in India, saying embassy teams were actively addressing concerns about intellectual property protection, taxation and regulatory stability. “Not a week goes by where an American company comes to see me and they ask me, ‘Ambassador, is it safe to invest in India? Will our IP be protected here? Or will the laws change next month? Is the tax system here safe?’” he said, adding: “It’s an incredibly gratifying thing to say that the United States trusts India.”
Beyond trade, Gor said bilateral cooperation is deepening across technology and strategic sectors — including artificial intelligence, defence and aviation — and called the partnership’s potential “unlimited.” US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth Jacob Helberg, speaking at the same summit, described India as an “indispensable innovation partner” and said Washington aims to foster a shared “developer ecosystem” with India to support collaboration in AI, semiconductors, digital public infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
Gor also revealed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to return to India before the end of the year after a four‑day visit in May that included stops in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Kolkata. With negotiators focused on the remaining 1–2 per cent of issues, expectations are rising that New Delhi and Washington could soon announce a breakthrough in a trade agreement that would mark a major milestone in the two countries’ growing strategic and economic partnership.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/business/india-us-trade-deal-sergio-gor-final-stages-usispf-2026-14027601.html
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Publish Date: 2026-06-30 06:31:00
