India-US Trade Talks Making Progress; Comprehensive Deal Could Give Bilateral Business a Major Boost, Says IACC President

India-US trade talks are progressing positively, and a comprehensive bilateral agreement could provide a significant boost to trade and business between the two countries, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) National President Anup Acharya said. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the IACC National Convention 2026, Acharya said both India and the US have maintained a positive approach toward the proposed trade agreement from the outset. He noted that negotiations have taken time because the discussions cover a wide range of issues and are aimed at producing a comprehensive deal.

Acharya's remarks came after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said that around 99 per cent of the India-US trade agreement had been completed, with only the remaining one per cent yet to be resolved. Reacting to the ambassador's assessment, Acharya said the negotiations were clearly moving in the right direction. He also referred to positive statements from Ambassador Gor and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, expressing confidence that the remaining issues would be addressed through continued discussions.

He said a bilateral agreement could only be finalised after detailed negotiations, with both governments seeking an outcome that supports businesses and trade in their respective countries. Acharya added that the strong relationship between India and the US provides a favourable foundation for a mutually beneficial agreement.

The US ambassador also addressed the IACC National Convention 2026, where he emphasised the importance of stronger economic cooperation between India and the United States. Gor highlighted the need for predictable taxation, stable regulations, stronger intellectual property protection and greater trust on issues involving export controls and technology transfers.

He also pointed to the significant expansion in India-US trade in goods and services, which has risen from around USD 20 billion to more than USD 240 billion over the past two decades. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Ambassador Gor during the convention to discuss potential areas of cooperation. According to Fadnavis, the discussions focused on sectors including technology, education, universities, data centres and semiconductors, where the US has considerable expertise.

Fadnavis said Maharashtra is exploring ways to attract greater investment in these sectors and channel American capabilities and capital into the state. With negotiations continuing, expectations are growing that a comprehensive India-US trade agreement could strengthen market access, encourage investment and further deepen economic ties between the two countries.