India and the U.S. are expected to close a deal soon, as India’s commerce and trade ministry has been invited to Washington next week by U.S. President Donald Trump, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor confirmed during his nomination hearing on Thursday.

“We’re actively negotiating with India right now. In fact, the President has invited their commerce and trade minister to come visit us next week, (we’re very hopeful for a deal). We are not that far apart right now on a deal, in fact we are negotiating the nitty gritty of a deal,” said Sergio Gor, President Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to India.

Gor emphasised, during his nomination testimony, that India remains a strategic partner in shaping regional and global stability, despite there being certain hiccups in the matters of tariffs and trade.

“India is a strategic partner whose trajectory will shape the region and beyond. India’s geographic position, economic growth, and military capabilities make it a cornerstone of regional stability and a critical part of promoting prosperity and advancing the security interests that our nations share. India is one of the most important relationships our nation has in the world. So, in spite of this little hiccup that we have had over tariffs, our relationship is much stronger,” said Gor during his address.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees foreign policy legislation, foreign aid, arms sales, and senior State Department appointments, held a nomination hearing for four of President Trump’s foreign policy picks including Gor on Thursday.

On collaboration on AI, pharma and defence

Gor identified the various sectors including AI, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals, where collaboration opportunities exist for the two partner nations.

“From artificial intelligence to pharmaceuticals to critical minerals, the potential for collaboration is vast; however, in the past, India’s protectionist policies and regulatory barriers have prevented us from fully realising this partnership,” he said.

He also proposed Indian investment in U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing to secure supply chains.

“I will encourage Indian investments in U.S. manufacturing capacity for active pharmaceutical ingredients. India already provides 40% of all generic drugs purchased in the United States. With Indian investments in this sector in the United States, we can further secure our strategic pharmaceutical supply chain and create jobs in the United States,” he added.

Gor highlighted that the two countries are actively engaged in deepening their cooperation in defence and security through joint exercises, defence sales, and co-development of systems to boost interoperability.

‘India must stop buying from Russia’

Gor also pointed out areas of contention between the two nations, particularly India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. “President Trump has been crystal clear on this, [India] must stop buying Russian oil,” he said, adding that the U.S. may have placed higher expectations on India than on other partners, which could explain why tariffs were imposed on New Delhi first, rather than Beijing.

Gor revealed that he plans to advance the U.S.-India TRUST initiative, the U.S. AI Action Plan, and to expand U.S. crude, LNG, and petroleum exports to India.

He highlighted that the U.S. sees India as a massive market, in this regard, that has a middle-class population larger than the entire population of the U.S.

“With that said, Indians have been on our side on various issues within BRICS, including several individuals in BRICS. Brazil, China have pushed for years to move away from the U.S. dollar. India has been the stopgap for that. India is much more willing and open to engage with us than with some of those other individuals that are in BRICS,” Gor added.

Gor finally confirmed that Trump is expected to engage with the Quad leaders and is already in talks for the next meeting expected to be held in India.

“The Quad is vitally important. In fact, after Secretary Rubio was sworn in, one hour after his first meeting was a meeting with the foreign ministers of the Quad. The President is committed to continual engagement with the Quad. In fact, there's already been talks on a trip for the next Quad meeting,” Gor revealed.