India-US Trade Deal Nears Final Stage Says Jaishankar
EAM S. Jaishankar highlights “strong momentum” in India-US relations as trade and strategic talks reach final stages.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday announced that the historic India-US trade deal is in its “final stages of detailing,” signaling a major step forward in bilateral economic and strategic relations. Speaking after concluding his February 2-4 visit to the United States, Jaishankar highlighted the “strong momentum” in India-US engagement across trade, defence, energy, and critical minerals.
During his Washington visit, Jaishankar participated in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussing avenues for cooperation in exploration, mining, and processing. He emphasized that critical minerals have emerged as a central pillar of the India-US economic and strategic partnership, particularly for clean energy transitions and advanced manufacturing.
Jaishankar also held separate meetings with Secretary Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, covering wide-ranging topics including trade, technology, nuclear energy, and defence collaboration. Both sides agreed to accelerate follow-up engagements to transform political momentum into concrete outcomes, according to the External Affairs Ministry.
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The discussions coincided with the recent announcement of a trade deal between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed at lowering trade barriers and expanding market access. Both Jaishankar and Rubio welcomed the agreement, underscoring the potential for new economic opportunities and enhanced energy security.
Beyond bilateral trade, the talks explored regional and multilateral cooperation, including coordination under the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. Jaishankar stressed the importance of a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region as vital to shared security and economic goals, reflecting the broadening scope of India-US strategic alignment.
India and the United States have steadily expanded ties across defence, technology, and investment in recent years. Officials noted that priority areas like advanced technologies and critical minerals will play a key role in sustaining growth and strategic collaboration, marking a significant evolution in the partnership between the world’s two largest democracies.
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