Rubio to visit India October 17–22; Jaishankar says trade talks near 'landing point'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India from October 17 to 22, with stops in Mumbai and Jamnagar, following a visit to Uzbekistan, as New Delhi and Washington seek to strengthen strategic ties amid continuing trade negotiations and disagreements over tariffs.The US Department of State announced Tuesday that Rubio will first travel to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to participate in the C5+1 Ministerial with the five Central Asian republics before heading to India for his second official visit to the country this year.In India, Rubio will meet senior government officials to discuss the bilateral strategic partnership, regional and global developments, and expanded energy cooperation. He will also engage with business leaders to promote investment and economic ties, according to the State Department.The announcement comes as Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Tuesday that India-US trade negotiations were moving towards a resolution, even as Washington’s changing trade policies force countries to reassess their economic relationships with the United States. “My sense is that this is an issue which is heading towards a landing point,” Jaishankar said during a conversation with Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi.Jaishankar said the United States was seeking to rebuild domestic industries and reset the terms on which other countries access its market. He indicated that India was evaluating the proposed agreement in the context of the terms Washington was offering other trading partners. “The United States has repositioned itself,” Jaishankar said, adding that countries needed to “recalculate and reset” their relationships with Washington as its approach to international engagement changed.The remarks offer a cautiously optimistic assessment of the trade negotiations, which have faced renewed uncertainty over tariffs, market access and the competitive position of Indian exports.FROM MAY'S OPTIMISM TO RENEWED TRADE UNCERTAINTYRubio’s forthcoming visit follows his four-day trip to India in May, when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaishankar for discussions on trade, energy, defence, maritime security and regional developments.During his May 24 meeting with Jaishankar, Rubio expressed confidence that the two countries could reach a durable trade agreement. He said the negotiations had made substantial progress and that Washington hoped to conclude an agreement beneficial to both sides.Jaishankar, meanwhile, called for an early conclusion to the interim trade agreement, describing it as an important step towards a comprehensive bilateral trade deal first envisaged during Modi’s February 2025 visit to Washington.The May discussions also covered energy diversification, nuclear cooperation, critical minerals, technology and visa-related challenges faced by Indian travellers. Rubio subsequently met Modi, discussing trade and energy, and conveyed an invitation from President Donald Trump for the Indian prime minister to visit the White House.Rubio’s May visit also included engagement with the Quad, the strategic grouping comprising the United States, India, Japan and Australia, underscoring the wider geopolitical significance of the relationship.TRADE DEAL REMAINS A KEY TESTDespite the optimism expressed in May, negotiations have continued amid changes in US tariff policy and disagreements over market access. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on October 5 that the talks had reached a plateau, with further concessions becoming increasingly difficult for both sides.The United States has sought to address its trade imbalance and expand access to the Indian market, while New Delhi has sought terms that protect sensitive domestic sectors and keep Indian exporters competitive against rival economies.Jaishankar’s latest comments suggest that discussions are continuing and that a resolution remains possible. However, his remarks do not amount to an announcement that a final agreement has been concluded.Rubio’s October visit will therefore provide another opportunity for Washington and New Delhi to advance their economic and strategic partnership, with energy cooperation explicitly identified by the State Department as an important part of the agenda.- Ends