US-India Trade Deal Enters Final Stretch as Ambassador Sergio Gor Says Only ‘Last 1%’ Remains; Dismisses Indo-Pacific Command Rename Controversy
US envoy says landmark trade pact is nearly complete, while insisting bilateral defence ties remain strong despite debate over the US military command’s name change.
The United States and India are on the verge of finalising a landmark bilateral trade agreement, with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor declaring that negotiations have reached the “last 1%” after more than a year of intensive discussions. Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit, Gor expressed confidence that the remaining issues would soon be resolved, paving the way for one of the most significant economic agreements between the two strategic partners.
According to the ambassador, nearly every major point in the negotiations has already been settled. He said both governments are now focused on resolving a handful of outstanding issues before announcing the agreement. The proposed deal is expected to provide greater certainty for businesses, improve market access, strengthen supply chains, and move the two countries closer to their long-term target of expanding bilateral trade to $500 billion.
Trade negotiations have gathered momentum in recent months through multiple rounds of discussions involving senior officials from both countries. The agreement is expected to cover tariffs, investment, digital trade, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing cooperation, and resilient supply chains. Officials believe the pact could significantly deepen economic integration while reducing trade barriers.
During the same event, Gor also addressed the controversy surrounding the recent decision by the United States to restore the name of its military command from the Indo-Pacific Command to the Pacific Command. The move had triggered speculation among some analysts that Washington was downgrading India’s strategic importance in the region.
Rejecting those concerns, Gor argued that the focus should remain on actual cooperation rather than administrative terminology. He remarked that the “name on a letterhead” does not determine the strength of the partnership, pointing instead to the expanding defence relationship between the two democracies.
The ambassador stressed that India conducts more military exercises with the United States than any other country, with joint activities taking place almost every month. He said defence collaboration, intelligence sharing, technology partnerships, and people-to-people ties continue to expand regardless of changes in bureaucratic nomenclature.
Gor also dismissed online speculation suggesting that relations between New Delhi and Washington had weakened. He maintained that the partnership remains on a “strong footing” across trade, defence, technology, and diplomatic cooperation, adding that current facts do not support claims of deteriorating ties.
The trade agreement is widely viewed as strategically important amid shifting global supply chains and growing geopolitical competition. For India, the pact could boost exports, attract greater American investment, and enhance cooperation in emerging technologies. For the United States, it would strengthen economic engagement with one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies while reinforcing broader Indo-Pacific strategic objectives.
With negotiations now reportedly in their final phase, officials on both sides are expected to continue intensive discussions in the coming weeks. If the remaining issues are resolved, the agreement could become one of the most consequential milestones in modern US-India economic relations, complementing an already expanding strategic partnership.
