Rubio in Mumbai for trade talks

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Mumbai on Tuesday to deepen energy cooperation and finalize a trade deal.

We're about as close as you can be

Rubio told reporters the countries are very close to executing the agreement, with only a small number of items left to wrap up. He expects this to happen shortly.

“We're very, very close. I would say we're about as close as you can be without having executed the agreement.”

Months of stalled negotiations

Trade talks have stalled for months over American tariffs and India's purchases of Russian oil. Washington imposed tariffs of up to fifty percent on most Indian goods in August twenty twenty-five.

India wants lower tariff rates

Under a framework agreed in February, the tariff rate was reduced to eighteen percent. India says its final tariff rate should be similar to competing manufacturing countries such as Vietnam.

Rubio visits Reliance refinery

Rubio is scheduled to visit a refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat on Wednesday and meet with business leaders. The facility, operated by Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries, is the world's largest refining complex.