India-US trade deal 99 pc finalised, remaining issues being resolved: Sergio Gor
Mumbai, June 3
The proposed India-US trade agreement is "99 per cent there", with only a few remaining issues left to be resolved, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Wednesday, expressing optimism that both countries are close to finalising the much-awaited interim trade deal.
Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the CITI India 2026 Conference here, Gor said officials from both sides are actively engaged in discussions and are committed to concluding the agreement, which he described as a "win-win" outcome for India and the United States.
"This morning, I met with the United States delegation visiting from Washington, D.C. Our Deputy Trade Negotiator, who was in Delhi for several days of discussions, is here with a large team," he said.
"We are very optimistic about the agreement. We are 99 per cent there, and the remaining one per cent is being worked out," Gor told reporters.
He added that the delegation would return to Delhi on Wednesday to meet Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal as negotiations enter the final phase.
"The delegation is meeting officials from the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of External Affairs, and we will travel back to Delhi tomorrow morning to meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal," he mentioned.
Gor also highlighted the pace at which the discussions have progressed, saying negotiations on the proposed India-US trade deal have been underway for around one-and-a-half years, compared to nearly 19 years taken for the European Union's trade agreement with India.
"Both the United States and India are like-minded partners and are committed to finalising the deal. We believe it will be a win-win outcome for both countries, and we are very excited about its prospects," he said.
Earlier in the day, Gor also shared an update on social media platform X, saying it was "always great" to meet Assistant United States Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, whose team is currently in India to continue discussions on the interim trade deal.
"Our efforts are guided by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi's vision of enhancing trade and investment between our countries. Progress is being made!" Gor wrote in his post.
— IANS
Reader Comments
99% sounds too good to be true. What about the 1%? Knowing our track record, it could be about dairy products or agricultural subsidies. US always pushes for more access to Indian food markets. Modi government should be tough on this. Our farmers need protection! 💪
Finally some positive trade news after all the tariff talk. India and US are natural allies. If this deal opens up more American investment in Indian manufacturing, we can create lakhs of jobs. But please, no more "foreign products dumping" scenarios.
I'm cautiously optimistic. Earlier trade talks dragged for years with nothing concrete. This time both sides seem to mean business. But I worry about parallel currency manipulation issues. Need to see what India is giving up in the 1%. Transparency please.
Great to hear! But 1% can be the most difficult part - like what happened with RCEP. If it's about data localization norms or pharma patents, India must stand firm. US pharmaceutical companies want high prices for their drugs. We need affordable medicines for our people.
S Sarah B (US citizen living in Bangalore) As someone with feet in both countries, this is a relief. We need predictable tariffs for tech transfer. Indian IT sector will thrive once IP protections are sorted. Just wish both sides would stop politicizing trade. S We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.