'It's In The Last 1-2%': US Envoy Sergio Gor Claims India-US Trade Pact Nearing Finish Line
'It's In The Last 1-2%': US Envoy Sergio Gor Claims India-US Trade Pact Nearing Finish Line Published By, Last Updated: June 30, 2026, 05:19 IST
'It's In The Last 1-2%': US Envoy Sergio Gor Claims India-US Trade Pact Nearing Finish Line Published By, Last Updated: June 30, 2026, 05:19 IST India and US have been negotiating the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement aimed at expanding market access, reducing tariff barriers and strengthening economic cooperation. Rapid Read US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor (Image: AP/File) United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Monday said the India-US bilateral trade agreement is in its final stages, with negotiators working through the last 1 or 2% of the legal text. Speaking at the IX US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit 2026, Gor said the deal has been under discussion for around 18 months, was briefly delayed by a recent judicial intervention, and has since been pushed back toward completion through high-level diplomatic engagement. He also said President Donald Trump remains committed to a “win-win" alignment with New Delhi. “That trade deal, we thought was done, until the Supreme Court decided to have it underway. And so we continue to pursue that, and we are very close…Most of this deal is complete. There’s a few items that are made for both sides, but it’s in the last 1-2% of that deal," Gor said. Also Read: India-US Ties ‘Going Fantastic’, Trade Deal In Final Stages: US State Secy Marco Rubio Referring to the recent visit of US Trade Representative Jamieson Lee Greer to New Delhi, Gor said the trip helped keep the negotiations on track. “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 from both sides, but it is in the last 1-2%… I am determined to bring this to a close because this is beneficial to both sides," he added. He said the trade negotiations involve thousands of items and require extensive legal work, adding that Greer has the President’s full confidence. “Ambassador Greer has the President’s full confidence, and so we are getting close to finalising that. But, these things are complex legal things, and this is not of one page. We have thousands of items between our two nations that we are working on. And so the fact that we’ve gone so far, that is a great sign for the relationship, and I am hopeful that we will be able to wrap this up sooner than later," the envoy said. Gor also said the US Mission in India has facilitated $20.5 billion in brand-new investments back into the United States this year, and contrasted that with the pace of trade negotiations with Europe. “People ask me why this is taking so long? We’ve been at this trade deal for a year and a half. To put it into perspective, the European trade deal took 20 years. And so no matter what, as long as we beat the European deal, I think we’re in good shape," the envoy said. “The US wants to work hand in hand with India… Our embassy in New Delhi this year, we were very proud to announce that we brought in $20.5 billion in new investments," he added.
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