New Delhi, Oct 20: The proposed India-US trade deal and Washington’s recent decision to waive the threat of additional tariffs linked to Russian oil purchases are expected to figure prominently during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India.
Rubio is scheduled to hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon.
Discussions are also expected to cover energy, defence, critical and emerging technologies, and other areas of bilateral cooperation.
Ahead of the visit, Rubio said in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, that Washington is “very close” to finalising the proposed trade agreement with India, signalling progress in negotiations that have continued since early 2025.
“We're trying to finalise the trade deal with India right now. We're very close to doing that,” Rubio said, adding that the negotiations were among the considerations in US President Donald Trump’s decisions on national-security waivers.
The remarks followed Trump’s decision on October 16 to waive the threat of additional tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, a move that eased a potential source of friction in India-US relations.
India and the US have been negotiating a bilateral trade pact aimed at addressing tariff-related differences, removing non-tariff barriers and improving market access.
New Delhi has been seeking more favourable tariff terms for Indian exports to the American market.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar recently said the negotiations were nearing a “landing point”.
“Discussions are expected to cover key areas of bilateral cooperation, including energy, trade and investment, defence, critical and emerging technologies, and other areas of mutual interest,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week.
On Monday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the tariff dispute and the subsequent waiver, arguing that India has safeguarded its energy interests while continuing diplomatic engagement with Washington.
In a social media post, Sarma said the US had imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods in August 2025 over India’s purchases of Russian crude oil, taking tariffs on many Indian exports to 50%. He also referred to the withdrawal of the additional tariff in February 2026 and subsequent tariff threats in September and October.
“...Those who repeatedly accused Prime Minister Shri Modi of surrendering owe the people of India an explanation. They were quick to make allegations. Now they must be equally willing to face the facts...” the post read.
During his engagements in Mumbai, Rubio is also scheduled to lay a wreath at the memorial for victims of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and attend a reception marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
He is scheduled to travel to Jamnagar in Gujarat on Wednesday.
With inputs from PTI