A big trade win for America is almost across the finish line. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a U.S.-India trade agreement is all but done. “We’re very, very close,” Rubio said. “I would say we’re about as close as you can be without having an executed agreement.”
Rubio said only a few details remain. “I think there’s a small number of items left to wrap up. So I think that will happen shortly,” he said. “Hopefully have some good news to announce fairly soon. And perhaps the leaders can sign it thereafter. So we feel very optimistic that we will have something in place here very soon.” He noted that the State Department does not negotiate trade deals, but said, “we are very much involved in what’s happening.”
Rubio explained why India matters so much. “This is the most populous country in the world. It’s the largest democracy in the world. It’s an important commercial partner and business partner,” he said. India is “a key member of the Quad” and “a strong strategic partner.” India’s foreign minister has been to the United States four times this year, and Rubio said America should be visiting even more.
Energy is a big part of the visit. Rubio said India is “a refining superpower” that can refine heavy Venezuelan crude as more of it comes online, and he heads next to Jamnagar to meet Reliance, which he called “a company with a massive amount of refining capability.” “Energy is related to national security,” he said. “Countries fight wars over energy… Economies collapse over lack of energy.” He said India has made “substantial progress” in diversifying away from Russian oil, “and we’re happy to see that.”
Rubio also honored the victims of terror. At Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, he laid a wreath for the victims of the November 26, 2008 terrorist attacks, including six American citizens. Strong partners, fair trade and American energy: that is America First diplomacy at work.
