US Secretary of State Marco Rubio travelled to Jamnagar on October 21 to tour Reliance’s refinery and Vantara.
Washington has raised concerns about India’s purchases of Russian oil and wants greater energy trade.
Talks on enhanced energy cooperation are on the agenda, according to The Tribune.
Rubio said only a small number of trade-deal items remain unresolved.
No agreement has been announced.
The two sides held talks on the trade agreement, and Rubio pushed for an early deal, according to Business Standard’s headline.
Rubio said the agreement could be finalised shortly, according to Business Today.
Both countries welcomed the progress in the negotiations and committed to their early conclusion, according to the same report.
The reports do not give a date by which the agreement is expected to be signed.
On Wednesday, October 21, Rubio left Mumbai for Jamnagar in Gujarat, the second leg of the visit, according to The Tribune and Business Today.
The Jamnagar stop includes a tour of Reliance Industries’ refinery and Vantara, according to Business Today.
The Tribune says talks on enhanced energy cooperation are on the agenda.
Latin Times reports that Rubio called India a refining superpower and that the United States wanted more Venezuelan crude to be processed at the Jamnagar refinery. This comes from a single report.
Washington has raised concerns about India’s purchases of Russian oil and is seeking greater energy trade with India, according to Business Today.
Reliance has United States energy interests, which have drawn attention in the talks, according to the same report.
India and the United States still have differences on several issues, according to Business Today, including United States tariffs, immigration restrictions and higher H-1B visa fees.
The reports mention punitive tariffs imposed last year as one of the sticking points.
This is Rubio’s second visit to India in five months, according to Business Today.
The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
