Trump says India and US are close to different trade deal

India and the United States have been negotiating a trade agreement for more than a year, according to Mint. The latest statements suggest both sides see a possible conclusion approaching, though the supplied coverage does not set out the proposed terms.

The talks also sit alongside a broader trade ambition. Times now reported that the United States wants bilateral trade to exceed $500 billion within three years, up from $240 billion.

Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on October 20, 2026, US President Donald Trump said India and the United States were "pretty close" to making a trade deal, The Hindu reported. He said the agreement would be much different from previous pacts.

On October 21, Mint reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was meeting Jaishankar in Mumbai. Rubio said an agreement could materialise within weeks, adding a possible timeframe to Trump's assessment.

Rubio also urged New Delhi to increase its purchases of US energy and defence goods, according to The Hindu. That request identifies specific areas Washington wants to expand as the trade discussions continue.

The agreement remains under negotiation in the supplied coverage. India News reported Rubio saying the two sides were "very very close", with small items left to resolve.

Neither Trump's description of a different agreement nor Rubio's forecast establishes what the final terms will be. The coverage provides no detailed explanation of how this pact would differ from earlier deals.

The immediate test is whether the remaining items can be settled within the weeks suggested by Rubio, as reported by Mint. A confirmed agreement and published terms would clarify what Trump's promised differences mean.

Another open question is whether increased Indian purchases of US energy and defence goods will form part of the agreement. The Hindu reported Rubio's request, but the supplied coverage does not establish an Indian commitment.