Rubio says India-US trade deal very close after Mumbai talks

Update, 21 Oct 2026 (IST): The talks took place in Mumbai on 20 October. Rubio said India and the US are "very, very close" to a trade deal, with only a small number of items left, AP and The Federal reported. No agreements were signed. Rubio visits Reliance's Jamnagar refinery today. Details below.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting India from 17 to 22 October 2026, with stops in Mumbai and Jamnagar in Gujarat, according to the US State Department. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will hold talks with him in Mumbai on Tuesday, 20 October, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed.

The day before, Jaishankar hosts the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also in Mumbai, the MEA said.

Key points

• Update: after the 20 October talks, Rubio said a trade deal is very close but not yet signed; no agreements were announced.
• Rubio's tour runs 17 to 22 October: Samarkand in Uzbekistan, then Mumbai and Jamnagar.
• Jaishankar–Rubio talks on 20 October will review the India–US "comprehensive global strategic partnership".
• Agenda items include energy, trade, investment, defence and critical and emerging technologies, the MEA said.
• Jaishankar will also be guest of honour at a celebration of the 250th anniversary of US independence in Mumbai.
• The choice of Mumbai over Delhi has drawn political criticism; the MEA says hosting visitors outside the capital is a long-standing practice.

What came out of the Mumbai talks

Jaishankar and Rubio met in Mumbai on Tuesday, 20 October. Here is what has been confirmed so far:

• Trade deal: Rubio told reporters the two countries are "very, very close" to a trade agreement, with only a small number of items still to settle, and that he expects it to be finalised soon, AP and The Federal reported. Nothing was signed during the visit.
• Jaishankar's account: In a post on X, Jaishankar said they discussed taking ties forward in trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people links, and exchanged views on regional developments.
• Russian oil: Rubio said India has diversified its energy sources but still buys a substantial amount of Russian oil, and that a sudden shift is difficult, AP reported.
• Tariffs in the background: The US imposed tariffs of up to 50% on most Indian goods in August 2025. A framework in February lowered the rate to 18%, but talks have since slowed, AP reported. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier said the talks had plateaued.
• No formal readout yet: The MEA had not issued a detailed statement on the talks when The Federal reported on them.

AP also reported a meeting of Rubio, Jaishankar and the UAE's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on regional energy security. Rubio is due to visit the Jamnagar refinery, run by Reliance Industries, on Wednesday, 21 October, and meet business leaders, according to the State Department.

What's on the agenda

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the talks would review India–US ties and ways to deepen the countries' comprehensive global strategic partnership, The Tribune reported. Energy cooperation is expected to feature prominently, along with trade, investment, defence and technology.

The visit comes at a delicate moment for many Indians in the US. In October alone, the US Labor Department froze green card processing at eight large employers, including four Indian IT firms, and the Department of Homeland Security proposed a $70,000 fee on student work permits and tougher rules for H-1B extensions. The MEA's announcement didn't mention immigration, and it isn't clear whether visas will be discussed.

Rubio's stop in Jamnagar, home to Reliance Industries' giant oil refinery complex, adds weight to the energy theme. The State Department hasn't said publicly what he'll do there.

Rubio India visit: why Mumbai, not Delhi

Rubio isn't visiting the capital, which has drawn criticism in India. Congress questioned the government's handling of the announcement, which was made first by the US Ambassador, Sergio Gor, according to Daily Jagran.

The MEA has defended the choice. "It has been the practice for the last decade or so that we have hosted foreign dignitaries outside Delhi," Jaiswal said, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meetings with Spain's prime minister in Vadodara and Germany's chancellor in Ahmedabad, and Jaishankar's hosting of meetings in Goa, Kevadia and Amritsar.

The UAE visit on 19 October

Jaishankar hosts Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed in Mumbai on Monday, 19 October, on an official visit, the MEA said. Talks will cover energy, trade, investment, space technology, defence and connectivity, as well as regional developments, a topic made urgent by the Houthi strikes on Saudi airports this month.

The two ministers met in Abu Dhabi on 14 October, according to the UAE foreign ministry.

Why it matters: The US is India's largest trading partner and a key defence and technology partner, and decisions in Washington on visas, tariffs and energy affect millions of Indian families. For readers in the US, this visit is a chance to see whether the two governments can keep strategic ties steady while immigration policy grows tougher. For readers in the Gulf, the back-to-back US and UAE meetings show how central West Asia's security has become to India's diplomacy.

What comes out of Mumbai on Tuesday will most likely be a joint statement heavy on energy and technology. The test for Indian families watching from New Jersey or Texas is whether it says anything at all about the visa rules shaping their lives.