KUALA LUMPUR: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Malaysia on Sunday on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit, where the two leaders discussed India-US bilateral relations, regional cooperation, and the progress of ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Jaishankar wrote,
“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 New Delhi and Washington are working to finalize terms of a long-anticipated Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) aimed at expanding economic cooperation and reducing trade barriers.
India’s Cautious Approach to Trade Deals
Last week, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal reiterated that India would not rush into signing any trade agreement under external pressure or accept terms that limit its independent trade policy.
He emphasized that trade partnerships should be built on trust, long-term strategy, and sustainable growth, not just short-term tariff reductions or market access.
“Trade deals are not only about tariffs or immediate benefits; they are about building durable economic relationships,” Goyal said. “It’s not just about being able to sell steel to America — it’s about a shared vision for mutual growth.”
Goyal’s remarks reflect India’s broader strategy of balancing trade liberalization with domestic economic resilience, particularly as negotiations with the United States move into their final stages.
Trade Talks Making Steady Progress
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal recently stated that discussions between India and the US are “progressing well” and that both sides are “converging on most issues.” He suggested that a mutually beneficial deal could be announced soon.
“I think we are very close,” Agrawal said, referring to the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump earlier this year.
The initial phase of the BTA was expected to be finalized between September and November, as per the joint statement issued in February. Negotiators are currently ironing out details related to non-tariff barriers and the final language of the agreement, according to government officials familiar with the talks.
With high-level diplomatic and economic engagements underway, the Jaishankar-Rubio meeting underscores the deepening strategic and economic partnership between India and the United States, built on mutual respect and shared global interests.
Image Source: Google | Image Credit: Respective Owner
