'Last Inches' Away: India-US Trade Deal Nears Finish, Trump's India Visit on Cards, Rubio Confirms

The India US trade agreement is now in its final phase, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying negotiations are in the " last inches " before completion. He also confirmed that US President Donald Trump is expected to visit India in the early months of next year, marking his first trip to the country since returning to the White House .

Speaking at the White House, Rubio said he plans to travel to India before the end of this year to prepare for the presidential visit. "I look forward to returning myself before the end of the year and setting up a presidential visit in the early parts of next year," he said.

His remarks come after the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Évian les Bains, France , earlier this month. The meeting, their first face to face interaction in 16 months, focused largely on advancing the long awaited trade agreement.

According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri , both leaders directed officials from both countries to work towards a " balanced, mutually beneficial, and commercially meaningful agreement " at the earliest. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor , who attended the G7 meeting, described the discussions as "fantastic," saying they lasted for over an hour and covered key areas including trade and defence . He also hinted that important announcements could be made in the coming weeks.

Highlighting the strong personal chemistry between the two leaders, Rubio said Modi and Trump share " a close bond " that is unmatched by any other world leader, adding that India US relations are "going fantastic."

Despite the positive momentum, a few issues remain before the trade deal can be formally signed. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said negotiations have largely concluded but stressed that India will move forward only after the United States provides a formal assurance that Indian exports will enjoy a tariff advantage over competitors such as Vietnam and Bangladesh .

"The day the US finds appropriate tools to give us a competitive advantage, the deal is on," Goyal said. The key hurdle emerged after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump's reciprocal tariffs , disrupting an earlier understanding that would have reduced India's tariff rate from 50 per cent to 18 per cent , a change seen as crucial for giving Indian exporters a competitive edge.

On the strategic front, Rubio also signalled renewed momentum for the Quad , comprising India , the United States , Japan , and Australia . He said Washington is looking forward to another Quad meeting " very soon ," reflecting continued cooperation on regional security, critical technologies, and the Indo Pacific .