The long‑negotiated US–India interim trade agreement is now in its final stretch, with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor saying the deal is “99% there” and that the remaining issues are being ironed out. Speaking at Citi’s 2026 India Conference in Mumbai, Gor said both sides are “very optimistic” and expect the pact to be signed within weeks, not months.
Gor emphasised that the agreement would be a “win‑win situation” for both countries, reflecting growing strategic and economic alignment. His remarks come as a high‑level US trade delegation is in New Delhi for a three‑day round of negotiations aimed at finalising the contours of the deal.
The broad framework for the pact was agreed upon in February, and negotiators are now working through the final 1% — largely technical issues involving market access, tariff adjustments, and regulatory alignment. The US team is led by chief negotiator Brendan Lynch, while India’s delegation is headed by Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce.
Officials say the goal is to conclude the interim agreement quickly before moving on to a more comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The US has also launched two Section 301 investigations covering 60 economies, including India, over concerns related to forced labour and excess industrial capacity — an issue that may influence the final shape of the trade pact.
Despite the momentum, negotiators acknowledge that the last stretch is often the hardest. Still, both sides insist the political will is strong, and the atmosphere remains positive.