New Delhi : US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the proposed US-India trade agreement has reached its final phase, expressing confidence that both sides are close to concluding negotiations after nearly 18 months of discussions. US-India Strategic Partnership Forum has shared the statement of Ambassador Gor expressed in the summit.
Despite the delay, Gor said significant progress has been made and both governments remain committed to finalising the agreement. He pointed to the recent two-day visit of United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to New Delhi as a sign that negotiations have entered the concluding stage.
Addressing questions about the time taken to reach an agreement, Gor said trade negotiations of this scale are often lengthy and complex. He noted that talks on the US-India deal have been underway for around a year and a half, adding that, by comparison, the European trade agreement took nearly two decades to complete.
Expressing optimism over the outcome, Gor said he hopes the remaining issues will be resolved soon, allowing both countries to conclude a deal that would further strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation. He remarked that if the agreement is completed in less time than the European trade pact, it would still represent a significant achievement.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said that the United States deeply trusts India and continues to explore new opportunities to expand cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking at the USISPF IX Leadership Summit 2026, Gor highlighted the increasing frequency of high-level exchanges since his arrival in India. He noted that visits have included senior US officials such as the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Commerce, reflecting what he described as a strong and active diplomatic relationship.
Gor particularly referred to the recent four-day visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling it a memorable engagement. He said Rubio travelled extensively across India, visiting cities including Kolkata, Jaipur, Agra, and Delhi, and expressed admiration for the country’s history, culture, and diversity.
He also recalled interactions between leaders during a recent international meeting in France, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi met both President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. According to Gor, Modi personally asked Rubio about his experience in Jaipur, to which the US Secretary responded with appreciation for India’s heritage and cultural richness.
Gor added that Rubio had expressed interest in returning to India before the end of the year, underscoring what he described as growing momentum in bilateral engagement between the two countries.