India-US Trade 'Almost Done In Principle': Sergio Gor Says Legal Text Being Worked Out

News india India-US Trade 'Almost Done In Principle': Sergio Gor Says Legal Text Being Worked Out

India-US Trade 'Almost Done In Principle': Sergio Gor Says Legal Text Being Worked Out

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Last Updated: August 23, 2026, 14:02 IST

US Ambassador Sergio Gor said the India-US trade deal is almost complete in principle, with legal and technical language being finalised.

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US Ambassador Sergio Gor says the India-US trade deal is almost done in principle as legal text is being finalised (Photo: PTI)

The proposed India-US trade deal is almost complete “in principle", with the remaining work largely involving the finalisation of legal and technical language, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum (WLF) on Saturday.

According to The Economic Times report, Gor said that “almost everything" related to the agreement has been settled in principle, while the two sides are currently “reconfiguring" some of the text before the deal can be finalised.

“The trade deal is, in principle, almost everything is done," Gor said, explaining that the delay in completing the agreement is linked to the legal and technical language that still needs to be worked out.

The US ambassador also underlined the significance of the bilateral relationship, saying that the India-US relationship will “define the global stage".

He pointed to the high-level engagement between the two countries as evidence of the importance Washington attaches to India.

Gor noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had already visited India for five days in May and is scheduled to return for another several-day visit in October.

“That’s unheard of for us," Gor said, according to the report, while emphasising that India matters to the United States and that Washington wants its highest-ranking officials to be present and participate in the relationship.

Gor Distinguishes Congress Bill From Trump Administration

Gor also sought to distinguish the position of the US Congress from that of the Trump administration while discussing a bill seeking a 100 per cent tariff on countries buying Russian oil.

He said the bill is being pushed by Congress “in a very bipartisan way", but stressed that the White House has not advocated the measure.

“This is not something that you have seen the White House advocate. You won’t find a clip of President Trump pushing it," Gor said, according to the report.

While acknowledging that the proposed tariff measure “impacts India", the ambassador said Donald Trump has wanted to end the Russia-Ukraine war “from day one" and remains determined to do so.

Gor also noted that the tariff bill had been passed by the US Senate in an “overwhelmingly bipartisan vote".

He stressed that ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict remains important to Washington.

“It’s vitally important to us that at some point, this war stops," Gor said, describing what is happening in the conflict as “a travesty on both sides".

What Gor Said On Trump-Modi Friendship

Gor also spoke about the relationship between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the two leaders as having a “deep and personal friendship".

The ambassador said both leaders are “forward-leaning", want action quickly and are “results-driven". He added that Trump has “tremendous respect" for PM Modi.

Gor said Trump particularly remembers what he described as PM Modi standing by him during difficult times, including after Trump lost the 2020 US presidential election.

“When Trump was out of office for four years, ‘a lot of people from around the world criticised the President’," Gor said.

However, he emphasised that India and PM Modi did not.

The ambassador said Trump remembers that support and “holds that friendship in a very special place".

Gor added that PM Modi was a “true friend" to Trump at a time when the US President was outside the White House, saying that this trust is an important reason why the relationship works.

Gor was also asked about the US-China relationship and Washington’s backing for the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, particularly in the context of India’s adversarial relationship with the adjoining country.

“You can’t pick who your neighbours are," Gor said.

He added that the United States maintains bilateral relationships with countries around the world and has to work with the governments that are in place.

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Key Questions Answered Powered by Ask News18 What are the final hurdles for the India-US trade deal? The final hurdles for the India-US trade deal involve finalising the legal and technical language, with almost everything else settled in principle. Negotiators are working on the last 1-2% of the legal text. How might the US Congress's tariff bill impact India? The US Senate passed a bill that could lead to tariffs of up to 100% on India, which may impact US-India trade relations, Indian exporters, and businesses. This development adds uncertainty to ongoing trade negotiations between India and the US. Will the Trump-Modi friendship influence future policies? The friendship between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi is expected to lead to new heights in the India-US trade deal. Trump values Modi's personal outreach during his time out of office and appreciates loyalty during politically difficult periods. This relationship is seen as a factor in the progress of the trade agreement. Powered by Ask News18

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: August 23, 2026, 14:02 IST

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