‘Fake News Alert’: US Envoy Says India Has Not Rejected Quick Trade Deal

The United States has firmly shut down rumours of a diplomatic stalemate, with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor dismissing reports claiming that India had walked away from a highly anticipated interim trade agreement.

Labelling the claims as entirely baseless, the envoy clarified that "no one has rejected anything" and revealed that negotiators are actually hammering out the final 1% to 2% of the legal text.

"It's in the Last 1 or 2 per cent."

The controversy erupted after a media report claimed New Delhi had declined a "quick" interim pact during recent high-profile talks, allegedly due to friction over agricultural access and protective tariffs.

Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit in Washington, Ambassador Gor forcefully corrected the narrative. Far from a breakdown, he described the negotiations as being on the absolute verge of the finish line.

"We are in the final steps on this deal," Gor announced. "Most of this deal is complete. There are a few items that remain from both sides, but it's in the last 1 or 2 per cent of that deal."

Acknowledging that a domestic legal intervention by the Supreme Court had briefly disrupted their original timeline, Gor reassured stakeholders that recent intensive meetings in New Delhi successfully saved the momentum. He playfully brushed off complaints about the pace of the 18-month negotiation, noting, "To put it into perspective, the European trade deal took 20 years. As long as we beat the European deal, I think we’re in good shape."

Direct Denials from New Delhi

The US envoy's pushback perfectly mirrors statements coming out of India's Ministry of Commerce. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal went public to call the rumours of a collapse "completely false, baseless, and misleading".

Taking to social media, Goyal confirmed that his recent face-to-face meetings with his American counterparts were highly constructive. Both teams, he stated, remain fully locked in on achieving a balanced, commercially meaningful pact that delivers real wins for farmers, workers, and businesses in both countries. Indian Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal backed this up, telling reporters that the groundwork is essentially complete and both nations are simply waiting for the right strategic window to officially sign.

The Bigger Picture: A $500 Billion Target

The trade pact is designed as the foundation for a massive long-term economic goal: hitting a $500 billion bilateral trade target, heavily championed by both US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ambassador Gor emphasised that the underlying numbers tell a story of unprecedented alignment, completely contradicting online critics. He revealed that the US Mission in India helped drive a staggering $20.5 billion in brand-new investments back into the United States this year alone.

Furthermore, the envoy shared details from a private, two-hour meeting with President Trump just before the weekend, noting that the president remains deeply invested in the alliance and holds incredibly fond memories of his time in India. Rather than a relationship in trouble, Gor pointed out that the two democracies are actively building a generational roadmap spanning artificial intelligence, deep technology corridors, and heavy defence integration.