Mumbai, October 20: The United States and India are close to finalising a trade agreement, with an announcement expected soon, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday, while describing the partnership between Washington and New Delhi as a defining force in shaping the 21st century.
“We’re very, very close. I would say we’re about as close as you can be without having executed the agreement,” Rubio told journalists in Mumbai.
“I think there’s a small number of items left to wrap up, so I think that will happen shortly,” he added, expressing hope that both countries would soon announce the agreement, followed by its signing.
Rubio clarified that the US State Department does not directly negotiate trade agreements but remains closely involved in the discussions.
“My counterpart, the National Security Advisor, and I care a lot about it,” he said.
Earlier this month, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India expected to finalise the first phase of the proposed trade deal soon. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal had said India was seeking preferential access to the US market and greater tariff stability under the agreement.
Rubio’s remarks came during his visit to Mumbai, where he held talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, defence, technology and other areas.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar said the two sides exchanged views on advancing bilateral ties and discussed regional developments.
“Pleased to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai today. We shared views on further advancement of our ties, focusing on trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties. Also exchanged views on regional developments,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
Rubio also shared details of the meeting on the social media platform, saying the discussions covered energy security and defence cooperation, while reaffirming the importance of advancing the US-India strategic partnership.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the discussions as productive, saying the two sides focused on deepening cooperation across defence, energy, emerging technologies and trade.
Rubio, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday for his second visit to India this year, also emphasised the strategic significance of the relationship between the two countries while addressing a ‘Freedom 250’ reception marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
He said the history of the 21st century was being written in the Indo-Pacific region and that the partnership between Washington and New Delhi would play a significant role in shaping the century.
“If you think about the story and the history of the 21st century, it’s being written in this region and it’s being written right now,” Rubio said.
He added that the relationship between the United States and India was helping define, in many positive ways, what the 21st century could look like.
Rubio stressed the importance of deeper engagement with India, describing it as the world’s most populous country and a key geopolitical partner of the United States.
He said the two countries were aligned on harnessing emerging technologies, including superintelligence and quantum computing, for humanity’s benefit while mitigating potential risks.
The US Secretary of State also highlighted the importance of maintaining a free and secure Indo-Pacific, arguing that open sea lanes were essential for international trade.
“On that issue, we are 100 per cent in perfect alignment,” he said, referring to the need for an Indo-Pacific in which no nation could claim dominance or ownership of international shipping routes.
Acknowledging that the two countries might not agree on every issue, Rubio said their alignment on core national interests was extraordinary, particularly given their size and global significance.
Signalling plans for more frequent engagement, Rubio said he intended to visit India every three months. “I’ll see you again in three months because I’m coming now every three months,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rubio paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks by laying a wreath at the Taj Memorial at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel before meeting Jaishankar at the same venue.
The visit comes amid ongoing efforts by the two countries to strengthen economic and strategic cooperation, with the proposed trade agreement emerging as a key focus of bilateral engagement.
