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The India-US trade agreement is in its final phase, with only the “last 1 or 2%” of negotiations left to be completed, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Monday, expressing confidence that the deal would soon be sealed after nearly 18 months of talks.
Speaking at the IX US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit 2026 in Washington DC, Gor said negotiators had already completed the overwhelming majority of the agreement and were now working through a handful of outstanding issues.
“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,” Gor said.
“I am determined to bring this to a close because this is beneficial to both sides,” he added.
Offering more insight into the lengthy negotiations, Gor said the timeline should be viewed in the context of the decades-long commercial relationship between the two countries.
“People ask, why is this taking so long? We’ve been at this for a year and a half. To put it into perspective, we’ve been trading for 20 years. So no matter what, once we beat the European deal, I think we’re in good shape,” he said.
The remarks come as New Delhi and Washington race to conclude an interim trade agreement before the expiry of the current pause on reciprocal tariffs announced by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
The proposed agreement is expected to address tariffs, market access, agriculture, digital trade and customs issues, while supporting the broader goal of expanding bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
‘The US trusts India’
Seeking to reassure American businesses, Gor said confidence in India among US companies had strengthened significantly, with the embassy actively addressing investor concerns over 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.
“It’s an incredibly gratifying thing to say that the United States trusts India, we work with India, and we look forward to identifying those next opportunities for both of our sides.”
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#WATCH | Washington DC | At the IX USISPF Leadership Summit 2026, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor says, “Ambassador Greer visited us in New Delhi for 2 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… pic.twitter.com/lSQDagX5IV
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2026
Partnership expanding beyond trade
Gor said the India-US relationship has evolved well beyond commerce, with cooperation deepening across artificial intelligence, advanced technology, defence, aviation and other strategic sectors.
“There is not a day that goes by that a new item pops up for the two countries to work together,” he said.
“Whether that’s AI, technology, defence, it’s unlimited potential. And I aim to harvest that and to bring the two sides together. And it comes down to that win-win situation. The US wants to work hand in hand with India.”
Looking beyond the trade pact, Gor said the relationship rests on structural economic and strategic interests that will endure regardless of political changes in either country.
“The United States and India have so much in common that that is something that will sustain us for decades to come. You pick the sector—AI, technology, aviation—no matter what it is, we have the potential to work together.”
India key to America’s technology ambitions
Speaking at the same summit, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth Jacob Helberg highlighted India’s growing importance in Washington’s technology and economic strategy, describing the country as an indispensable innovation partner.
“India is such an important partner because of its numerous engineers, the size of its population and rapid economic growth. The needs here are immense,” Helberg said.
“It is a market offering vast opportunities to create new applications and services. That is why we want to foster a ‘developer ecosystem’ with India — a shared developer ecosystem — and we recognise that this truly forms the foundation of our multifaceted collaboration with them.”
His comments reflect the increasing emphasis both governments are placing on collaboration in emerging technologies, including AI, semiconductors, digital public infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
Rubio planning another India visit
Highlighting the growing political momentum behind the relationship, Gor revealed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning to return to India before the end of the year after what he described as a memorable visit in May.
According to the ambassador, Rubio’s four-day trip — which included visits to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Kolkata alongside participation in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting — left a lasting impression.
Recalling a recent interaction at the G7 Summit in France, Gor said Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Rubio about his visit to Jaipur, prompting the secretary to praise the city’s history, colours and culture.
Rubio subsequently told the prime minister he was already looking at returning to India later this year, Gor said.
The ambassador also noted that the Quad foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in the Philippines in about two weeks, signalling continued strategic engagement among the four Indo-Pacific partners.
With negotiations now focused on what Gor described as the final “1-2 per cent” of outstanding issues, expectations are growing that India and the United States could soon announce a breakthrough in a trade agreement that would mark a significant milestone in one of the world’s fastest-growing strategic and economic partnerships.
