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Informist, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026

--TV: US Ambassador Gor: India-US actively engaged on trade deal 
--TV: US Ambassador Gor: Next call on India-US trade deal on Tue 

NEW DELHI – The next call on the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement is likely on Tuesday, recently-appointed US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said in his inaugural address on Monday. Gor arrived in New Delhi on Friday. 

"Both sides continue to actively engage. In fact, the next call on trade will occur tomorrow. India is the world's largest nation," Gor said in his address, which was streamed by multiple Indian news channels. "So, it's not an easy task to get this across the finish line, but we are determined to get there and while trade is very important for our relationship, we will continue to work closely together on other very important areas such as security, counter-terrorism, energy, technology, education, and health."

Gor's statement comes after doubts arose Friday on the trade deal being off the table following US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's remarks on a podcast. Lutnick said the trade deal with India did not happen because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call US President Donald Trump in time. Meanwhile, the Indian government had said Lutnick's remarks were inaccurate.

Indian goods currently attract a 50% tariff in the US. According to Indian Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, the two sides are close to an interim framework agreement to address India's concerns about the steep tariff. However, Agrawal has not given any timeline after both countries missed their earlier goal of finalising the deal by the fall of 2025.

So far, Indian exports to the US have held up despite steep duties, rising 11.4% on year to $59.04 billion in Apr–Nov. But in the absence of a trade deal, India may be exposed to duties of as much as 500% in the future if the US Congress clears the bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia and its trading partners. Trump has approved the bill and a congressional vote is likely this week, according to US Senator Lindsey Graham.   End

US$1 = INR 90.24

Reported by Krity Ambey

Edited by Avishek Dutta

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