US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on 2 October 2026 said the India-US trade deal is in the “short strokes” — a phrase indicating negotiations are nearing their final stages — while cautioning that a formal agreement was not imminent. His remarks came on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee, where he held a bilateral meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

What Greer Said

Speaking at a press conference, Greer described his conversation with Goyal as “very constructive” and confirmed that working-level officials from both countries were actively engaged. “We are continually trying to finish the trade deal with India. I would characterise it as we say in the US — we’re in the short strokes, so I think we’re toward the end of it,” he told reporters.

He was careful, however, to temper expectations. “I don’t think there’s something imminent, but we truly have identified the universe of items that are sticking points,” Greer said. He did not disclose the nature of those sticking points, nor did he provide a timeline for concluding the agreement.

Trump-Modi Call and Possible Follow-Up

Greer was also asked whether a phone conversation between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day earlier had injected fresh momentum into the talks. He described that call too as “a very constructive call” and hinted that another conversation between the two leaders could follow soon. “My sense is that the president and prime minister may have another call very soon on this, just to assess progress and where we are,” he said.

Notably, the direct engagement at the level of heads of government alongside simultaneous working-level talks in Milwaukee signals that both sides are treating the deal as a political priority, not merely a technical exercise.

Broader US Trade Context

The India talks are part of a wider sweep of bilateral negotiations being conducted by the Trump administration with major trading partners. Greer disclosed that the United States had signed 10 agreements on reciprocal trade and nine joint statements with various countries, with deals now covering more than 40 per cent of US goods trade.

Defending the administration’s tariff posture, Greer said Washington’s trade measures were not directed against any single nation. “Our trade policy is pro-American. We’re trying to support our supply chains in the US. We’re not trying to create excess production. We’re not trying to corner global markets on a certain good or commodity,” he said.

Milwaukee Ministerial: The Backdrop

The Milwaukee G20 Trade Ministerial, held under the US G20 presidency, brought together trade officials from the world’s major advanced and emerging economies. Agenda items included structural excess production, forced labour in global supply chains, the most-favoured-nation principle, and what delegates termed the “weaponisation of food” through coercive trade actions.

Goyal used the gathering to hold a series of bilateral meetings beyond his session with Greer, underscoring that India is pursuing a multi-front trade diplomacy strategy during a critical window for global trade architecture.

What Comes Next

With sticking points reportedly identified and staff-level negotiations continuing, the immediate focus will be on whether the anticipated Trump-Modi call can provide political clearance to close the remaining gaps. Any finalised India-US bilateral trade agreement would mark a significant shift in the two countries’ economic relationship, which has long been complicated by tariff disputes and market-access disagreements. The timeline, for now, remains open.