US Secretary of State Rubio meets Indian counterpart amid easing trade tensions

​​​​​​​By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Monday with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New York City on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.

"We discussed key areas of our bilateral relationship, including trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals and more to generate prosperity for India and the United States," Rubio wrote on the US social media company, X.

Jaishankar said on the platform that the conversation addressed bilateral and international issues of current importance.

He said they "agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas" and will "remain in touch."

Jaishankar is visiting the US for the General Assembly meeting as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend.

- Trade tensions ease

The exchange comes amid calming trade tensions between the two nations. India and the US held "positive" trade talks last week in New Delhi, resuming discussions despite disputes about 50% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Indian goods.

US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch led discussions with Indian officials, with both sides agreeing to "intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement," according to India's Commerce and Industry Ministry.

Tensions escalated when the US imposed 25% tariffs on Indian imports in August, later doubling them to 50% for India's continued Russian oil purchases.

US goods and services trade with India totaled an estimated $212.3 billion (€196 billion) in 2024.