Trump’s Tariffs, Visa Curbs Not Targeted at India: Marco Rubio

Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to ease India’s concerns over the Trump administration’s tariffs and visa restrictions. He said these measures do not specifically target India or aim to punish the country.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Rubio expressed optimism about the long-pending India-US trade agreement. He said both countries were close to finalising the deal, with negotiations potentially concluding within weeks rather than months. Rubio stated that nearly 99 per cent of the work had been completed. He also expressed confidence in the negotiations’ progress and the prospects for a successful agreement. The US Secretary of State acknowledged that Washington’s proposed tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy could affect relations with India. However, he insisted that the measures did not intend to harm New Delhi or damage bilateral ties.

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Rubio Clarifies US Tariffs and Visa Curbs, Highlights India Ties

Rubio highlighted President Donald Trump’s recent decision to grant tariff waivers. He explained that the administration recognised the potential economic consequences of imposing additional tariffs on India. He also noted that Trump faced criticism within the United States for not implementing tariffs required under congressional legislation. Rubio emphasised that maintaining strong relations with India remained important to Washington. He linked the broader tariff policy to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the administration’s efforts to address the conflict. Addressing concerns over Washington’s restrictive immigration policies, Rubio said the measures applied globally. He rejected suggestions that the administration had specifically targeted Indian nationals through visa restrictions.

He explained that the United States was working to address longstanding weaknesses in its immigration system. According to Rubio, the administration wanted to strengthen enforcement and establish more sustainable immigration programmes. He acknowledged that Indians might perceive the restrictions as specifically directed at them. However, he maintained that officials across numerous countries had raised similar concerns about visa procedures. Rubio arrived in India for an official visit from October 20 to 21 at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The visit marked his second trip to India following his earlier visit to New Delhi in May. During the visit, Indian and American officials discussed cooperation across several strategic areas. Their discussions covered trade, defence, technology and energy security, reflecting the breadth of the bilateral relationship.

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