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Rubio says US is close to finalising India trade deal

2026-10-19 · 1 source · Economic Times Economy

In short

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that the US is very close to finalising a trade deal with India. He also said the US looks at trade talks when making choices about national security waivers linked to Russian oil and gas sanctions.

This could matter for India-US trade and for sanctions policy. The reporting does not say when the deal will be done or what is still being negotiated.

What the reporting says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that Washington is close to finalising a trade deal with India. He linked the discussions to broader US decision-making on national security waivers tied to Russian oil and gas sanctions. The immediate consequence is that trade talks appear to be advancing, but the reporting does not say when any deal will be completed or what terms remain unresolved.

Why it matters

Marco Rubio said on Monday that Washington is close to finalising a trade deal with India. He also said US decisions on national security waivers related to Russian oil and gas sanctions take ongoing trade negotiations into account. That points to movement in bilateral trade talks, but the available reporting does not identify the deal’s scope, timing, or any remaining sticking points.

Touches: Economy, Global, Energy

Sources