WASHINGTON:The long-awaited comprehensive trade agreement between India and the United States is nearly finalized and poised to unlock an unprecedented era of bilateral cooperation, a senior US State Department official has announced.

According to the official, negotiations between Washington and New Delhi are currently "90 percent plus" complete, with only a few minor, final details remaining to be ironed out. Stressing that trade has historically been the most challenging sticking point in diplomatic relations, the official urged observers to "stay tuned" for a major announcement.

"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," the official stated. "This has always been the sticking point in the relationship. And so I think we're very close and it's going to be very, very exciting when we get there."

The positive assessment aligns with recent remarks from Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who noted that the bilateral trade pact framework is largely "done and dusted" and awaits final execution once the proper competitive advantages are locked in.

Diplomatic Milestones and the Quad

The upcoming economic breakthrough coincides with a busy diplomatic calendar between the two nations. The State Department official highlighted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit India in October, marking a continuation of high-level strategic alignment. Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to the United States for the G20 Summit hosted in Florida this December, where major joint announcements are anticipated.

Discussions also touched upon the Quad grouping (India, the US, Japan, and Australia), with the official noting an unprecedented frequency of foreign ministerial meetings this year, emphasizing the shared priority placed on a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Updates on the IMEC Corridor

Addressing the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the State Department official reaffirmed that the project remains a "huge priority" for both New Delhi and Washington. While regional geopolitical instabilities—including conflicts in the Middle East—have temporarily paused progress, the US remains enthusiastic about mapping out alternative logistics and shipping pathways.

"We're ready to go," the official noted regarding the US and Indian stances. "But the Middle East—I think those countries, Saudi [Arabia], Jordan, the UAE, and Israel—they're still going to have to figure out their pieces of this... once things can stabilise, you're really going to see IMEC take off."