US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits India for energy and trade talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a six-day overseas trip to Uzbekistan and India to hold discussions on energy and trade, according to the US Department of State. Rubio will visit the financial center of Mumbai and the oil hub of Jamnagar, while bypassing New Delhi.

The visit comes as the two countries struggle to finalize a long-delayed bilateral trade deal. Jamnagar hosts Reliance Industries' oil refining complex owned by Mukesh Ambani, which is the largest oil refinery in the world.

Trade negotiations have faced delays following US President Donald Trump's tariff policy changes, friction over energy purchases, and closer US relations with Pakistan. Legal uncertainty also arose after court challenges disrupted the US reciprocal tariff structure.

In February 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US officials agreed on a framework for an interim trade deal. Under that proposal, Washington planned to lower reciprocal tariffs from 25 percent to 18 percent, while India agreed to cut duties on various industrial and agricultural products.

Tensions over energy trade remain a central obstacle. Rubio defended a 60-day waiver period under the Graham Act regarding Russian energy imports, calling India an important ally and strategic partner. Trump recently signed an executive order waiving threatened sanctions linked to Russian oil purchases.

Negotiators from both nations have indicated that progress has slowed. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said recent talks reached a plateau, while US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer noted that an announcement was not imminent. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor had stated in June that officials were working on the final portion of the deal.

Agriculture remains a key point of disagreement, as India seeks to protect domestic farmers from foreign competition. Washington wants India to buy more American energy products, while India insists on tariff rates that remain competitive with regional rivals such as Vietnam.

Indian trade minister Piyush Goyal said the initial phase of the agreement is undergoing legal drafting, but added that it will only take effect once India secures a competitive advantage over peer nations. Meanwhile, Indian goods exports to the United States rose 21 percent in August to $8.3 billion.