A senior US State Department official said the US-India trade deal is "90 per cent-plus" complete, signaling that the two nations are on the verge of signing a landmark agreement. The official, speaking to PTI, described the progress as a culmination of decades of negotiation, noting that the deal would "unleash another level" of bilateral relations that previous administrations failed to achieve. "We are very close," the official said. "Just those final things being worked out."
The timing is critical. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to the US for the G20 Summit in Florida in December, a trip the State Department official hinted could carry "major announcements." Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also set to visit India in October, reinforcing what the official termed the "continuous growth and attention" to the partnership. The diplomatic traffic is heavy, and the trade deal sits at the center of that momentum.
Beyond the trade pact, the official highlighted the unprecedented frequency of Quad summits, with foreign ministers from India, the US, Japan, and Australia meeting for the third time this year. "That's unprecedented," the official noted, pointing to the deepening strategic alignment among the four democracies. This diplomatic density suggests that the upcoming meetings are not just routine check-ins but pivotal moments for finalizing the broader strategic and economic framework.
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) remains a "huge priority," but progress has stalled due to regional instability. The official cited the ongoing conflicts involving Israel, Gaza, and Iran—referencing "Operation Midnight Hammer"—as the primary blockers. "It's really being held in the Middle East," the official admitted. While the US and India are ready to move forward, the corridor's passage through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, and Israel requires these nations to first resolve their own security and political hurdles. Until the region stabilizes, IMEC remains on pause, even as the trade deal races toward a finish line.