India-US trade deal near finish line, says envoy Sergio Gor as talks continue
US Ambassador Sergio Gor says Washington is determined to complete the India-US trade agreement. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says most negotiations are over, but legal drafting and safeguards for farmers are still part of the process.
US Ambassador Sergio Gor says Washington is determined to complete the India-US trade agreement. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says most negotiations are over, but legal drafting and safeguards for farmers are still part of the process.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Saturday said Washington is determined to complete the proposed bilateral trade agreement with New Delhi. His comments came as both governments described the negotiations as nearing completion, with India insisting that any agreement must fully protect Indian farmers and domestic industries.
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta, Gor said the two sides had been negotiating for a little over a year and that the time taken to reach a trade agreement needed to be seen in context.
"The trade agreement has been at the finish line for a very long time, and we hope we will be able to get it across the finish line. The one thing I tell people to keep in perspective is that the European Union trade deal with India took almost 20 years. We have been at this for a little over a year, so we have plenty of time, and I am determined that we will get it across the finish line," he said.
India-US trade agreement: Negotiations move to final drafting
Gor's remarks came days after Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said most discussions on the proposed pact had been completed and the two countries were fine-tuning its terms. Speaking in The Hague on October 26, Goyal said the work had moved to refining the agreement.
Earlier, on October 15, Goyal said the first part of the agreement had been finalised and was undergoing legal drafting. However, the agreement has not been formally signed, and no firm date for its implementation has been announced.
The latest statements follow differing assessments earlier this month. On October 1, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said an agreement was not imminent while confirming that negotiations were continuing after talks with Goyal in Milwaukee.
Farmers' interests and tariff terms remain central to India's position
New Delhi has maintained that any arrangement must protect sensitive sectors, particularly agriculture, and secure competitive terms for Indian exporters in the American market.
On October 29, Goyal said the proposed agreement would not compromise the interests of Indian farmers or domestic industry. He also maintained that its provisions would give India a strong comparative advantage once the terms were disclosed.
Indian farmer organisations have expressed concerns about possible concessions on agricultural imports from the US. The government, however, has said its negotiations would safeguard domestic producers. Detailed provisions of the proposed agreement have not yet been made public.
US ambassador points to defence ties and F-35 participation
Gor also said cooperation between India and the US extended beyond trade to pharmaceuticals, information technology and defence. He described bilateral ties as being at a "higher level than ever before".
"I think that the relationship is great. Pick any sector or any item, and the United States and India are working at it at a higher level than ever before. Whether that involves pharmaceuticals, IT, or military exercises, as you know, India holds more military exercises with the United States than with anyone else," he said.
Referring to recent military cooperation, Gor cited the participation of about 500 US troops in Yudh Abhyas and the multinational Tarang Shakti air exercise. He said US F-35 fighter aircraft had featured in the latter exercise and referred to another military drill expected next month, without giving details.
Tarang Shakti 2026 was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 26 to October 12. Along with India, air forces from the US, Australia, France, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh participated. US F-35 aircraft took part in the exercise, which also included other fighter and transport aircraft.
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