- Sergio Gor, Trump's pick for next US ambassador to India said Washington and New Delhi are close to a deal
- Trump invited Indian commerce ministers for talks next week on the deal
- Gor said China and India should receive the same tariff treatment from the US
US President Donald Trump's nominee for the country's ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, has said that Washington and New Delhi are not "that far apart right now" on the trade deal. Speaking before the senate committee, he said that the two countries are now discussing the "nitty-gritty" of a deal.
Admitting that the US expects more from India than other nations, he said that, "We hold our friends to different standards".
Gor informed that Trump has invited India's commerce and trade ministers to visit next week and as part of a meeting with Ambassador Jamieson Greer, Washington's trade representative, the two countries will have a deal.
Regarding Trump's tariffs, he highlighted that China and India should be meted out with the same treatment, "And I hope that you will encourage that we treat China in the same way as we treat India, given what they're doing to fund Russia's war machine."
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday told ANI that the first part of the India-US trade deal is expected to be finalised by November.
"In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump together instructed us that the ministers of both sides should make a good agreement by November," Mr Goyal said.
He explained that discussions between the two countries are moving in a positive direction and both sides are satisfied with the progress so far.
