'Fake News Alert': US Ambassador Rejects Report About India Turning Down Trade Deal

Published 13 July 2026 · local

'Fake News Alert': US Ambassador Rejects Report About India Turning Down Trade Deal Published By, Last Updated: July 13, 2026, 23:09 IST The Indian government

'Fake News Alert': US Ambassador Rejects Report About India Turning Down Trade Deal Published By, Last Updated: July 13, 2026, 23:09 IST The Indian government also rejected reports that it was delaying the trade pact. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal called such claims 'completely false'. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor (IMAGE: AFP) US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Monday rejected a Reuters report claiming that New Delhi had turned down a quick trade agreement with Washington and was holding out for better terms. Gor said neither side had rejected anything and that recent meetings between India and the US were constructive. “Fake news alert! No one has rejected anything. Both sides had very constructive meetings and reaffirmed their commitment to finalising a trade deal. We continue to stay actively engaged. Reuters – you can do better!" Gor said in a post on X.

Fake news alert! No one has rejected anything. Both sides had very constructive meetings and reaffirmed their commitment to finalizing a trade deal. We continue to stay actively engaged.Reuters – you can do better! Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) July 13, 2026 What Did Reuters Report? Reuters reported that India had rejected a quick trade deal with the US and was seeking better terms, with New Delhi drawing confidence from new trading partners, easing economic risks and political gains at home. According to the report, India and the US failed to finalise an interim agreement during US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s visit to New Delhi last month. An Indian government official told Reuters that Washington had not offered assurances on two key demands, a tariff advantage over competitors such as China and protection against fresh US levies after a deal was signed.

The official told Reuters that India did not intend to rush into an unfavourable agreement or compromise on sensitive sectors such as agriculture. US Ambassador Pushes Back The Indian government also rejected reports that it was delaying the trade pact. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal called such claims “completely false, baseless and misleading". Goyal said India and the US remained actively engaged in trade talks and had made significant progress towards reaching an agreement. He also rejected suggestions that New Delhi had walked away from or deliberately delayed a trade deal with Washington. “The claims made in the Reuters report are completely false, baseless and misleading," Goyal said, according to reports. Gor’s remarks came after Goyal’s rebuttal, with both rejecting the suggestion that India had turned down a quick trade deal with the US.