'Fake news': US envoy, Piyush Goyal deny report claiming India rejected quick trade deal

Hours after Goyal termed the report "completely false, baseless and misleading", Gor also dismissed it as "fake news", saying negotiations between the two countries remained constructive.

"Fake news alert! No one has rejected anything. Both sides had very constructive meetings and reaffirmed their commitment to finalising a trade deal. We continue to stay actively engaged. Reuters – you can do better!" Gor wrote on X while responding to the report.

'Talks are constructive'

Goyal also took to X to deny the report, stressing that discussions between the two countries were progressing positively.

"This news is completely false, baseless and misleading. I had fantastic meetings with USTR Jamieson Greer when he visited Delhi in June. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to an agreement that is balanced, commercially meaningful, and delivers tangible benefits for businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers in both countries," he said.

The minister added that negotiating teams from both countries remained fully engaged in concluding the agreement.

Trade deal in final stretch

The latest clarification comes weeks after Sergio Gor indicated that the long-awaited India-US trade agreement was nearing completion.

Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit last month, the envoy said the negotiations were in their "final steps", with only a handful of issues left unresolved.

"Most of this deal is complete. There are a few items that remain on both sides. It's in the last one per cent of that deal," he had said.

Gor acknowledged that the negotiations had taken time but noted that both countries were working to conclude a comprehensive agreement after years of expanding bilateral trade.

Goyal: Deal will be fair and equitable

Earlier this month, Goyal described the proposed trade pact as a "very fair and equitable" agreement that would provide India with preferential access to the US market.

He said free trade agreements are designed to improve market access and enhance the competitiveness of Indian exports.

"For us, the primary factor in the free trade deal is to get a preference over all our competitors, our neighbours, and the Southeast Asian countries. That's the lens through which every country in the world has looked at it," Goyal had said.

Focus remains on finalising pact

The coordinated statements from New Delhi and Washington underscore that negotiations remain on track despite speculation over differences.

Both governments have reiterated their commitment to concluding a balanced agreement that delivers commercial benefits for businesses, farmers, workers and consumers in both countries.