Rubio says India-U.S. trade agreement is close, pushes energy and defence ties
publishers 24articles 31first reported 18 Oct, 05:15 UTCdeveloping since 18 Oct · 12 editions
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said India and the United States were close to finalizing a bilateral trade agreement as he met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Rubio said about 99% of the work had been completed and predicted the agreement could be finalized within weeks. He described the remaining issues as largely related to the meaning of specific language. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said both countries welcomed progress in the negotiations and reaffirmed their commitment to an early conclusion.
The talks also covered energy security, defence, technology and regional and global developments. The State Department said Rubio encouraged India to increase energy trade with the United States and purchase more U.S. technologies and defence systems. Jaishankar said the two officials discussed advancing trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties.
Rubio is scheduled to visit Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery on Wednesday and meet company chair Mukesh Ambani. He said he would explore opportunities for Reliance to process more Venezuelan crude, describing India as a refining “superpower” with the capacity to handle heavy oil.
Rubio also said U.S. tariffs were not intended to punish India and that tighter American visa policies were not targeted at the country. Separately, Jaishankar thanked the United States for handing over Tahawwur Rana and said India expected partners to show zero tolerance toward terrorism.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 78 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 24
- Source articles
- 31
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 78 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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