“They want to make a deal. We're going to make a deal. Pretty close, yeah,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday (local time) when asked about the prospects of an agreement. He further indicated that the agreement “could be a much different kind of deal”.
Trump's comments come amid growing optimism in both countries over the long-pending trade agreement. Rubio also described the deal as “incredibly close” during his visit to India, indicating that negotiations had moved towards the final stages.
Rubio and Jaishankar held wide-ranging discussions in Mumbai on Tuesday, reviewing the full scope of India-US relations and committing to an early conclusion of the proposed BTA.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of the US Freedom 250 Reception hosted by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in Mumbai. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the discussions covered key strategic sectors, including trade, defence, technology and energy security.
“They welcomed the progress made in negotiations on the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and reaffirmed their commitment to working towards its early conclusion,” the MEA stated. The discussions also underscored the importance both sides attach to further advancing the India-US COMPACT for the 21st century.
Rubio is on an official visit to India from October 20 to 21 at Jaishankar's invitation. The trip marks his second visit to the country, following an earlier visit to New Delhi in May. He is scheduled to travel next to Jamnagar in Gujarat for discussions that will include “enhanced energy cooperation”, according to the US State Department.
Rubio Calls India-US Strategic Alignment ‘Extraordinary’
Earlier on Tuesday, Rubio described the strategic alignment between India and the United States as “extraordinary”, saying the two countries had an opportunity to shape the course of the 21st century through their partnership.
Speaking at the Freedom 250 Reception in Mumbai, Rubio acknowledged that the two countries would not agree on every issue. However, he said their shared interests could influence geopolitics, economics, trade and commerce for decades.
“No two nations on Earth will ever be perfectly aligned on every issue, and there will be times and points of disagreement,” Rubio stated.
“But on the core issues that matter, the core issues that define the national interests of both India and the United States, the alignment between our countries is extraordinary,” he added.
Rubio also said the United States should engage diplomatically with India more frequently, describing the country as one of Washington's most important geopolitical partners.
Explaining the significance of his Mumbai visit, Rubio highlighted the city's position as India's financial and commercial hub. He noted that many companies investing in and trading with the United States are based there.
Officials Express Optimism Over Trade Negotiations
Trump's latest remarks follow positive assessments from officials in both countries about the prospects of an agreement after a prolonged stalemate in trade discussions between Washington and New Delhi.
Last week, Gor told the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi that “the big items are done” and said the two countries were very close to “landing it”.
Jaishankar had also expressed encouragement over the progress of the negotiations, saying both sides were “heading toward a landing point”.
The talks have unfolded against the backdrop of Trump's decision late Friday to waive tariffs of as much as 100% on buyers of Russian oil and gas. The duties would have affected Indian products and complicated the trade discussions between the two countries.
Trump's latest assessment, alongside Rubio's description of the agreement as “incredibly close” and his indication that the negotiations are down to technical details, points to continued movement towards a deal. However, both sides have stressed that every detail must be agreed upon before the agreement is announced.
The latest statements from Washington and New Delhi indicate that the negotiations are approaching a critical stage, with the final outcome dependent on both countries reaching agreement on the remaining details of the proposed bilateral trade pact.
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