The US-India trade deal is "90 per cent" complete, with only a few final issues left to be resolved, a senior US State Department official said. The official said the
agreement could take bilateral ties to a new level, calling it something the two countries have not achieved in decades when it comes to trade. "I would say stay tuned, which we keep saying, but we are – we are very close – it's like a 90-per cent-plus there and just those final things being worked out, so I hope you're going to see something very soon on that," the official said in response to a PTI question on when the deal could be signed. "And that's really going to just unleash another level of US-India relations, something that hasn't really – we haven't been able to get there in decades when it comes to trade. "This has always been the most sticking point in the relationship. And so I think we're very close and it's going to be, I think, very, very exciting when we get there," the official said.
Rubio Visit, Modi's US Trip And Quad
Asked about US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's planned visit to India in October, the official said it was part of the continued focus on the US-India partnership.
"This is all part of the continuous growth and attention to the US-India partnership. There's a lot happening," the official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to travel to the US for the G20 Summit in Florida in December. The official indicated that there could be major announcements around the visit.
"There's just a lot happening in the relationship," the official said.
The official also highlighted the growing engagement among the Quad countries — India, the US, Japan and Australia.
The Quad foreign ministers are expected to meet in New Delhi, with the official saying it would be the third such meeting this year.
"That's unprecedented. They've never met this many times, and I think that just tells you the attention that we're giving, the importance of that diplomatic grouping, the importance that India also places on it, as well as Japan and Australia. And stay tuned as well," the official said.
IMEC Held Up By Middle East Conflict
On the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the official said the project remains a major priority for both Washington and New Delhi. The US has also continued to support the corridor amid efforts to develop alternative trade and energy routes.
"It's absolutely a huge priority" of the United States and India, the official said.
However, the official said developments in the Middle East had slowed progress on the corridor, which passes through the region.
"I think on the India side and on the US side, we're ready to go. But because of some of the challenges we've had over the years, starting from the beginning of the administration – the president came in and we were still dealing with Israel/Gaza. That certainly paused things.
"And then obviously Iran and Operation Midnight Hammer, that paused things. And so every – it's really being held in the Middle East. So I think when things can stabilise, you're really going to see IMEC take off," the official said.
The official added that work was already underway to map parts of the proposed routes, particularly shipping and trucking links.
"But the Middle East – I think those countries, Saudi, Jordan, the UAE, and Israel – they're still going to have to figure out their pieces of this," the official added.
