Rubio meets Jaishankar in Mumbai as US-India trade deal nears
Why it matters: Tariffs on Indian goods and New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases remain the main obstacles to closing the pact.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Mumbai on Oct. 20 as Washington and New Delhi pushed to wrap up a long-delayed trade agreement. Rubio said the two sides were very close to a deal, with only a small number of issues left unresolved. The talks come after the United States cut tariffs on most Indian goods to 18% under a February framework, down from as much as 50% imposed in 2025 after earlier negotiations broke down. India’s purchases of Russian crude have also strained ties, even as both countries seek closer cooperation in energy, technology and defense. Rubio and Jaishankar also joined United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan for talks on regional energy security and economic priorities.