US-India Trade Deal Nearly Final, Rubio to Visit India in October: Ambassador Sergio Gor
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Saturday that the proposed US-India trade agreement is almost complete, with only legal and technical language still being finalized. Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Gor stated, "The trade deal is, in principle, almost everything is done," adding that Washington is currently "reconfiguring" some of the text. He attributed the delay to the need to settle legal and technical details.
Gor also drew a distinction between a bipartisan push in the US Congress for tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil and the stance of the Trump administration. He noted that the proposed legislation, which could impose 100% tariffs on such countries, was being "pushed by the Congress in a very bipartisan way," but stressed, "This is not something that you have seen the White House advocate. You won't find a clip of President Trump pushing it." While acknowledging the bill "impacts India," Gor said Trump has been determined to end the Russia-Ukraine war since taking office, adding that it is "vitally important" for the conflict to stop.
On the personal relationship between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gor described it as a "deep and personal friendship," recalling that Modi stood by Trump during his four years out of office after the 2020 election. "When you're up, when you're in the Oval Office, everybody wants to be your friend. But when you're out, that's when you can really realise who your friends are," Gor remarked, noting that Trump remembers Modi's support and holds that friendship in a special place.
Gor also highlighted the strength of the bilateral relationship, pointing to growing trade, defence, energy, and space cooperation. He mentioned that Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent five days in India in May and is scheduled to return for another several-day visit in October, calling such high-level engagement "unheard of." Gor further stated that the US-India relationship will "define the global stage," and that US ties with China and Pakistan would not come at the expense of its relationship with India.