Rubio says India‑US trade pact 99% finished, tariffs and visa rules not aimed at India

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the India‑US trade deal is 99% complete and could be finalised within weeks. He noted negotiations have run for more than a year‑and‑a‑half. The remaining hurdle, he said, is language‑related wording rather than major policy gaps. Rubio stressed that the high tariffs imposed on countries importing Russian oil and gas are not meant to punish India and that a Trump‑issued waiver last week shows the need for careful management of any impact on ties. He added that the US visa restrictions stem from fixing twenty years of neglect in an immigration system and are not targeted at India. Reflecting on almost two years as secretary, he described India‑US relations as positive and highlighted the Quad as a strong cooperation platform that is turning ideas into action. When asked if the Trump administration is soft on China, he rejected the term, saying the goal is strategic stability and warning that a US‑China trade war would be devastating for the global economy and would affect India. He also assured Indians that US dealings with Pakistan or any other nation will never be at the expense of the India relationship. ## Context The trade pact’s final wording stage is typical for complex agreements. US tariffs on Russian energy are part of broader sanctions on Moscow. The visa backlog has been a long‑standing issue in US immigration policy affecting many Indian professionals and students.