US Ambassador Sergio Gor confirmed that the India-US trade deal is 99% complete, with only '1% work left' remaining before finalization. Speaking at the US-India TRUST Initiative at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, Gor emphasized that 'We fully expect that the trade deal will be signed over the next few weeks and months'. According to reports from The Times of India, Gor stated that 'Our current interim trade agreement is on the table for us to finalize' and that 'President Trump's goal is to facilitate bilateral trade in a way that creates unprecedented opportunities for American businesses and workers'. A US delegation from the US Trade Representative (USTR) is arriving in New Delhi next week to discuss and finalise the 'last one per cent' of the trade agreement, signaling the continued momentum toward a comprehensive agreement. America's chief trade negotiator is scheduled to visit India from June 1 to 4 to lead the critical next round of negotiations, as reported by NDTV Profit.
Bilateral trade between India and the United States has experienced remarkable growth, increasing from around $20 billion to nearly $220 billion over the years. As reported by NDTV Profit and Business Standard, Gor highlighted that this substantial increase demonstrates the deepening economic partnership between the two nations. Speaking at IIT Delhi, Gor noted that 'In just over two decades, bilateral trade has grown from 20 billion to over 220 billion in goods and services' and emphasized that 'That's not just volume; it reflects deeper, broader engagement and stronger economic integration'. The ambassador stressed that 'Today, the United States is one of India's largest trading partners and India is among the top trading partners of the United States', with growth increasingly driven by innovation, investment, and high-value sectors involving large corporations and start-ups. This increase in trade not only benefitted large corporations in the respective countries but also helped startups and individual entrepreneurs, as noted by Business Standard.
Major technology companies are making significant investments in India's AI-driven growth initiatives. According to NDTV Profit, Amazon plans to invest $35 billion by 2030 toward AI-led digitisation initiatives, while Microsoft has committed $17.5 billion toward cloud infrastructure expansion. Google is also planning additional investments, creating a wave of large-scale technology investments linked to AI-driven growth in India. Ambassador Gor stated that 'We trust India, your government and your technology' during his remarks, noting that 'From digital trade and advanced manufacturing to energy and emerging technologies, linking not just large corporations but also start-ups and entrepreneurs' are driving the bilateral trade growth. As reported by Business Standard, Gor emphasized that 'In India, technological innovation at the highest levels, especially in higher education institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology, will be visible to the world over the next two, five, and 10 years' and that 'Some of these innovations, Gor said, could be life-changing for people across the world'.
The US-India relationship has evolved into a 'dynamic' space partnership that addresses emerging threats while advancing peaceful space use and providing 'counterbalance to China's influence'. According to The Times of India, Gor highlighted that this partnership 'drives technological innovation and economic growth' and represents a significant component of the bilateral strategic relationship. The ambassador emphasized that 'The partnership between India and the US should be the defining strategic partnership of the 21st century, delivering tangible benefits for the people of both countries' and that 'Critical and emerging technologies are reshaping the global balance of power. I believe no partnership is better positioned to lead that charge other than ours'. This space collaboration complements the broader technological partnerships being developed through the India-US TRUST initiative.
The United States and India are expanding collaboration in critical minerals research and development, with both countries launching dedicated initiatives. According to NDTV Profit, Gor acknowledged India's National Critical Minerals Mission and highlighted that 'Critical minerals touch on nearly all of these efforts in emerging technologies' and are 'essential for defence technologies and enable the energy systems that power our economies'. He noted that 'Last year's leaders agreed to accelerate collaboration in research and development and promote investment across the entire critical mineral value chain'. In February, Secretary Rubio hosted the forum on Resource Geo-Strategic Engagement (FORGE) with representatives from 54 countries and the EU Commission, including Minister Jaishankar on his travel to Washington. Gor emphasized that 'Through scientific exchanges, such as recently hosted by IIT Roorkee, we're bringing our researchers together to exchange knowledge' and engaging students in both countries to develop the next generation of technological leaders.
