The United States and India are nearing the completion of a long-awaited trade agreement, with U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor saying the deal is essentially finished in principle. Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Gor said the remaining work largely involves resolving legal and technical language before the agreement can be formally concluded.
Gor indicated that negotiations have already settled most of the substantive issues, with the final phase focused on refining the wording of the agreement. He explained that the process has taken time because of the detailed legal and technical requirements involved in preparing the final text.
The ambassador also addressed concerns surrounding a proposed measure in the U.S. Congress that could impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian oil. According to Gor, the proposal has received bipartisan support in Congress, but he emphasized that it should not be viewed as a policy being actively promoted by the White House.
Gor noted that the legislation could have implications for India but distinguished it from the Trump administration’s stated priorities. He said President Donald Trump has remained focused on ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has consistently pushed for an end to the war.
Beyond trade and geopolitical issues, Gor highlighted the personal relationship between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He described the two leaders as having a strong friendship and said both are focused on achieving results and moving quickly on key priorities.
According to Gor, Trump has particularly valued the support Modi showed him during the period when Trump was outside the White House following the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Gor suggested that the experience helped strengthen the trust between the two leaders.
The ambassador also emphasized India’s growing strategic significance for Washington. He pointed to the frequency of visits by senior U.S. officials as evidence of the importance the United States places on its relationship with India.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent several days in India in May and is expected to make another multi-day visit in October, Gor said. He described such high-level engagement as unusual and said it reflects the importance of the bilateral relationship.
Gor further argued that the India-U.S. partnership could have a major influence on the global stage. While discussing Washington’s relationships with China and countries that maintain close ties with Pakistan, he said the United States must continue working with governments around the world regardless of their regional relationships.
The comments come as New Delhi and Washington seek to deepen economic and strategic cooperation. A finalized trade agreement, combined with continued high-level diplomatic engagement, could provide another significant boost to the broader India-U.S. relationship.
