India, Oct 27 : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, days after reports indicated that the India-US trade deal was nearing finalization. The meeting covered a broad range of topics, including bilateral relations, regional developments, and global challenges.
In a post shared on X, Jaishankar said, “Glad to meet @SecRubio this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues.”
The meeting comes at a crucial time, as trade negotiations between India and the United States continue to advance. Both nations are working toward a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) that aims to strengthen economic cooperation and enhance market access.
Last week, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that the talks were “progressing well,” with both sides “converging on most points.” He added that the deal first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on February 13 was now “very close” to conclusion.
Meanwhile, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal reiterated that India would not rush into any trade agreement or accept conditions that limit its autonomy. Goyal emphasized that trade agreements are built on “trust, long-term ties, and sustainable frameworks,” not just tariffs or market access.
“In a short-term context, it’s not about what happens in the next six months or selling steel to America,” he said. “Trade deals are long-term relationships built on trust and shared goals.”
The India-US trade deal, once finalized, is expected to open new avenues for collaboration in sectors like technology, renewable energy, and manufacturing, further solidifying the strategic partnership between the two nations.