With a U.S.-India trade agreement still unsigned, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio promoted expanded energy trade during Oct. 20 talks in Mumbai, citing potential benefits for India's supply chains.
The State Department said closer energy ties could diversify India's supply chains and help meet consumer demand. It said Rubio also encouraged India to buy more U.S. technologies and systems, and noted progress in defense and civil nuclear cooperation.
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the ministers discussed trade, energy, technology, defense, people-to-people ties and regional developments. The State Department's account also mentioned the Middle East.
Asked about the trade agreement, Rubio said only a small number of issues remained. “We're very, very close,” he said, echoing his assessment a day earlier. He did not identify those issues or give a signing date, and said the State Department participates in the process but does not negotiate trade agreements.
The February framework calls for India to eliminate or reduce tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods and lower or remove duties on a wide range of American food and agricultural products. Both governments also committed to address non-tariff barriers. If completed, those changes could improve access to India's market for U.S. exporters.
The framework listed an 18% U.S. reciprocal tariff on specified goods from India. A Feb. 20 executive order later ended the emergency-powers duties cited in that provision, so the February figure does not establish a current tariff rate.
Separately, an Oct. 16 White House order waived duties and sanctions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The order said other Russia-related sanctions remained unaffected.
The meeting followed earlier plans for energy and trade talks in Mumbai. Rubio said he planned to visit Reliance Industries' refining operations in Jamnagar on Oct. 21 to discuss refining capacity and potential supplies.
