India-US Trade Agreement Nears Completion Ahead of Secretary Rubio’s Visit
NEW DELHI — India and the United States are close to finalizing a bilateral trade agreement, with most major issues resolved and negotiations now focused on remaining technical details, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said Thursday.
Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, Gor expressed confidence that the two countries would soon conclude the agreement, describing the negotiations as among the fastest-moving trade discussions between two major economies.
“The big picture, the big framework, the big items are done,” Gor said, indicating that the overall structure of the proposed agreement has been settled.
He said negotiations have advanced to detailed discussions involving specific products and tariff rates, with senior officials from both governments continuing to work through outstanding issues.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal have been involved in the discussions, according to the ambassador.
Gor acknowledged the complexities of negotiating a trade agreement between two large economies but maintained that both sides were approaching a final deal.
Beyond trade, the ambassador emphasized the expanding strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi, describing India as a trusted U.S. partner in several critical sectors.
He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for its efforts to advance emerging technologies and highlighted India’s participation in international technology partnerships.
Gor said cooperation in artificial intelligence, clean energy, technology development and civilian nuclear power would create significant economic opportunities for both countries.
He also pointed to investments by major American technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, Adobe and Micron, as examples of the expanding commercial relationship.
According to Gor, the growing economic partnership benefits both countries by encouraging investment, supporting innovation and generating employment opportunities.
The ambassador also highlighted the strength of defense cooperation between the two nations.
He said India conducts more military exercises with the United States than any other country, citing recent joint training operations and the participation of American F-35 fighter jets in exercises in India as evidence of growing strategic trust.
Gor also announced that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio would visit India soon, with stops planned in Mumbai and Jamnagar.
The upcoming visit is expected to place considerable emphasis on trade, investment and commercial cooperation as the two governments work toward completing their bilateral agreement.
Gor’s comments suggest that the proposed trade pact could become a major focus of Rubio’s discussions with Indian officials.
The ambassador also addressed questions about potential U.S. sanctions connected to Russia and the continuing conflict in Ukraine.
He said the proposed measures were intended to help bring an end to the conflict rather than target any particular country.
Discussions on the issue remain underway, he added, with decisions expected from the U.S. administration in the coming days.
The developments come as India and the United States seek to strengthen their economic and strategic relationship through expanded trade, technology partnerships and defense cooperation.
A finalized trade agreement would represent a significant step in the two countries’ efforts to deepen commercial ties and address longstanding trade issues. (Source: IANS)
