US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on 27 June that India and the United States are on the cusp of a bilateral trade agreement, with only a 'handful of issues' remaining and negotiators now focused on finalising the legal text before both sides sign. Speaking in an exclusive interview at the White House, Gor expressed confidence the deal would be concluded within weeks or months, describing the pace of negotiations as unusually swift by global standards.

Where Negotiations Stand

Gor said the substantive differences between the two sides have largely been bridged, with the outstanding work centred on drafting precise legal language. 'A lot of it is the language that has to be written,' he said, describing the remaining task as one of form rather than fundamental disagreement.

He noted that he had been in talks just 48 hours earlier in New Delhi, alongside US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, meeting with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. 'It was very productive,' Gor said. 'There's a handful of issues that remain. A lot of it now is on the language that ultimately both sides will sign. We're confident that over the next few weeks, over the next few months, it'll get done.'

Putting the Timeline in Perspective

Gor pushed back against any perception that negotiations have been slow, pointing out that the proposed India-US agreement has been under discussion for only about 18 months. 'The European Union deal, which is still not done, is 20 years,' he said. 'Everybody says, "Why is this taking so long?" We're on an incredible trajectory of getting it done.'

This framing is notable: major bilateral trade agreements typically take years to conclude, and the India-US process — launched roughly a year and a half ago — has already moved through multiple rounds of negotiations spanning tariffs, market access, and regulatory alignment.

Trump's India Visit on the Horizon

Beyond trade, Gor indicated that President Donald Trump remains keen to visit India following his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in France. 'One of the things the President asked about is, "So when am I coming?" He's very keen to come. The Prime Minister invited him,' Gor said, adding that he had spent several hours with Trump in the Oval Office just before the interview.

Gor declined to provide a specific timeline, citing the upcoming US midterm election schedule and the President's heavy domestic travel commitments. 'India's high on the list of places where he'll visit soon,' he said.

The Broader India-US Partnership

India and the United States have been negotiating the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement aimed at expanding market access, reducing tariff barriers, and strengthening economic cooperation. Both governments have repeatedly described the pact as a priority, with the intention of concluding an initial agreement before advancing to a broader trade framework.

Gor also underscored the personal rapport between Trump and Modi as a stabilising force in the bilateral relationship, dismissing periodic speculation about strains. 'The President and Prime Minister are great friends, and that's something that goes back years ago, and it's something that will continue to go years ahead,' he said.

Trade has emerged as one of the fastest-growing pillars of the India-US strategic partnership, which also spans defence, technology, critical and emerging technologies, energy, education, and people-to-people ties. With negotiators narrowing the remaining gaps, the coming weeks will be closely watched for any formal announcement.