New Delhi: The “historic” India-US trade agreement is in the final stages of detailing that will be completed “very soon”, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday after holding wide-ranging talks with U S Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as reported in The Hindu.
The talks between Jaishankar and Mr Rubio in Washington DC came three days after U S President Donald Trump, following a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced reduction of US tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50% under the trade deal.
The external affairs minister said the trade deal will open up a “new phase” in the relations, the report added.
The report said Jaishankar, in a social media post, described his visit to the U S as “productive” and “positive”.
“The historic India-US trade deal is in the final stages of detailing that will be completed very soon. It opens up a new phase in our bilateral ties, with vast possibilities for the relationship,” he said.
“Our critical mineral cooperation is also advancing rapidly. Expect engagement on strategic issues, defence and energy in the coming days. Overall, a strong momentum is evident,” he said.
Jaishankar was in Washington DC to attend a US-led ministerial meeting on critical minerals, the report said.
India-US relations have been under severe stress after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% including a 25% additional duties for India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.
This apart, the ties between the two nations witnessed a downslide on a number of other issues that included Trump’s claim of ending the India-Pakistan conflict in May last year and Washington’s new immigration policy.
