Marco Rubio Says India-US Trade Deal 99% Complete, Tariffs And Visa Curbs Not Targeting India

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to reassure India over Washington’s trade and visa policies, saying American tariffs are not intended to “punish India” and that visa restrictions are not specifically targeted at the country.

In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express on Tuesday, Rubio said negotiations on the long-awaited India-US trade agreement were nearing completion, expressing confidence that the two sides could finalise the deal within weeks rather than months.

“I think we’re incredibly close. The way I would say it is, we are weeks, not months, away from, I think, finalising it. I think 99% of the work is done,” Rubio said, while acknowledging that the remaining issues needed to be resolved before an agreement could be concluded.

The two countries have been negotiating the trade deal for more than a year and a half.

Trade Deal Talks Down To Differences In Wording

Rubio declined to disclose the outstanding issues but indicated that the remaining differences largely concerned the interpretation of specific terms and phrases in the agreement.

“I don’t want to get into the details of the sticking points. I can simply tell you that it’s there. I won’t call them technicalities, but it’s language related. It’s basically down to what certain words mean and what certain phrases mean,” he said.

His comments signal continued momentum in negotiations between New Delhi and Washington, even as trade-related differences have placed pressure on bilateral economic ties.

Rubio Says US Tariffs Are Not Intended To Harm India

Asked whether US tariffs targeting countries importing Russian oil and gas could affect economic relations with India, Rubio acknowledged that such measures could have consequences and stressed the need for careful management.

The remarks followed US President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement of tariffs of up to 100% targeting countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, as well as a waiver announced last week.

“I mean, it can. There’s no doubt about it, and that’s why it has to be managed. It has to be managed very carefully, and that’s why the relationship we have is so critical,” Rubio said.

He added that Washington did not intend to use tariffs to penalise New Delhi.

“We certainly don’t want to do things. None of these tariffs are done to punish or to harm India,” he said.

The comments come amid efforts by both governments to advance trade negotiations while managing disagreements over energy purchases, tariffs and broader economic cooperation.

US Seeks To Reassure India On Visa Restrictions

Rubio also sought to address concerns over US visa restrictions, saying the measures were not specifically directed at India.

His remarks form part of a broader diplomatic outreach aimed at maintaining cooperation between the two countries despite differences over trade and other policy issues.

With Rubio expressing confidence that the trade agreement is close to completion, the coming weeks could prove significant for negotiations. However, the deal remains subject to the resolution of outstanding differences and the finalisation of its terms.