India and the United States appear to be moving closer to repairing their recent trade rift, with signals of renewed momentum from both political leaders and diplomatic representatives in Washington. After months of tensions, fresh trade talks have resumed, and officials from both sides expressed confidence that an agreement is within reach.
During her interaction with IANS, Congresswoman Deborah Ross, co-chair of the Congressional Study Group on India and a Democrat representing North Carolina, said she was “very heartened” by the resumption of negotiations. She described the reopening of dialogue as critical, citing the long history of cooperation between the two largest democracies in areas ranging from business to education. According to her, pushing India away from the US would only drive it closer to Russia and China—an outcome Washington should avoid.
Ross pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in last month’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as a turning point. She said the optics of those meetings served as a wake-up call in Washington to accelerate efforts to strengthen engagement with New Delhi. While acknowledging Modi’s signaling of alternatives, she added that those options remain less favorable compared to closer alignment with the United States.
Her remarks came as Sergio Gor, President Trump’s nominee for US Ambassador to India, told a Senate confirmation panel that negotiations are now in an advanced stage. Gor revealed that India’s commerce and trade ministers had been invited to Washington and that both governments are “not that far apart” on finalizing a deal. He emphasized that the two sides are currently working out the technical details.
Gor also reiterated the strategic framework underpinning the relationship, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to the Quad grouping of India, the US, Japan, and Australia. He said the Quad remains “vitally important” and suggested that President Trump may travel to India later this year to participate in the summit. Referring to India-China relations, he argued that despite temporary strains in Washington’s ties with New Delhi, the US maintains a significantly warmer relationship with India than Beijing does.
For Ross, the partnership extends beyond trade and security into education and technology. She underlined the role of Indian students, who contribute an estimated $9 billion annually to the US economy. She confirmed that she and other lawmakers have been pressing the administration to resolve delays in student visa processing, which have disrupted academic schedules. In her view, cooperation in education remains central to long-term bilateral strength.
The Congresswoman also voiced strong support for expanding H1B visas, citing the US shortage of doctors, engineers, and other skilled professionals. She stressed that India is a natural partner in this exchange, given its democratic transparency compared to authoritarian regimes that often face allegations of intellectual property theft.
In defense ties, Ross, who previously visited the Western Naval Command in Mumbai with Representative Ro Khanna, acknowledged short-term strains caused by tariff disputes but expressed confidence that military cooperation will remain steady. She confirmed that a bipartisan congressional delegation is scheduled to visit India again in February, including members from defense and intelligence committees, to signal bipartisan support for closer ties.
Both Ross and Gor also spoke about broader challenges. While Ross called for dialing down heated political rhetoric in the US to curb violence, she simultaneously addressed rising attacks on Hindu temples and other places of worship, noting her work to expand security grants and maintain federal protections. Gor, meanwhile, praised India’s role in the BRICS grouping as a stabilizing force and commended its willingness to engage with Washington despite global pressures.
Taken together, the remarks by the senior lawmaker and the envoy nominee underline a renewed push in Washington to reset the India-US partnership. As negotiators finalize trade details, the broader message from leaders is clear: both sides remain committed to deepening cooperation across trade, education, defense, and global governance.
