External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed a “range of bilateral and international issues of current concern” as they met in New York on Monday — their first meeting after the Donald Trump administration doubled the tariff on Indian imports to 50 per cent as “penalty” for purchase of Russian oil, and days after the US increased the H-1B visa fee to $100,000. Sources said the hour-long meeting, on the sidelines of the high-level 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), was “positive”, as they discussed all issues in a candid manner. They also agreed to continue to engage so that they can make progress on “priority areas”. “Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York. Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch,” Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting, indicating that the hot-button issues were part of conversation. Considering that this was their first face-to-face meeting since July — when they met in Washington DC for the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting — Jaishankar and Rubio had a lot of ground to cover, as many issues have cropped up in the last couple of months, sources said. The India-US trade deal, which was almost agreed upon by the two sides, fell apart at the last minute, and the conversation at the political level seeks to give a push to the negotiations. Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York. Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch. 🇮🇳 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/q31vCxaWel — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 22, 2025 The technical-level negotiations will be carried forward by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who is also in the US this week, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The Jaishankar-Rubio meeting sought to give a political understanding, as the commerce and trade negotiators work on the specifics of the deal. Jaishankar also met US Ambassador nominee Sergio Gor. “US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia and Ambassador Nominee to India Sergio Gor met with India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. They look forward to further promoting the success of the US-India relationship,” the US State Department posted on X. The meetings come close on the heels of a conversation between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 16 — the US President called up Modi to wish him on the eve of his 75th birthday. Earlier that day, India and the visiting US team held day-long trade talks — later described by both sides as “positive”. This was the first conversation between Modi and Trump since the bilateral chill set in last month, after Trump doubled tariffs on India to 50 per cent. Significantly, both Modi and Trump talked of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in their posts on social media after the phone call. Modi also said he was “fully committed” to taking the India-US partnership to “new heights”. Before that, during their last conversation on June 17, Modi had contradicted Trump's repeated claims of having brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May and linking it to trade talks. The first signs of a possible thaw came on September 6, when Trump said the two countries have a “special relationship” and “there is nothing to worry about”. Hours later, Modi responded that he “deeply” appreciated and “fully” reciprocated “President Trump's sentiments and positive assessment of bilateral ties.” Days later, on September 10, hinting at a possible easing of trade tensions, Trump said India and the US are “continuing negotiations to address the trade barriers”, and he was “certain” there would be “no difficulty” in the talks being successful. In his response, Modi said both countries are “natural partners” and would “work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future”. Trump had also indicated that he was looking forward to speaking with his “very good friend” Modi in the coming weeks - raising hopes of a possible phone call between the two leaders. Modi had responded that the trade negotiations would pave the way for unlocking the “limitless potential” of the India-US partnership. In a statement earlier, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry had said that as Goyal meets his US counterparts this week, they are expected to take forward the discussions with a view to achieving “early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement”. It said that during the US team's visit on September 16, positive discussions were held on various aspects of the trade deal, and it was decided to intensify efforts in this regard. Jaishankar arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level UNGA week, commencing his engagements with a bilateral meeting with the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Theresa P Lazaro. “We followed up on the recent State visit of President @bongbongmarcos to India. Also discussed our cooperation in the UN and the Indo-Pacific region,” Jaishankar said in a post on X. Lazaro said it was a pleasure to meet Jaishankar again after President Marcos’s “successful” state visit to India in August. “Our discussion today reaffirms our two countries' commitment as strategic partners to actively develop cooperation in political, defence and security, the maritime domain, etc,” she said. Jaishankar will hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings during the week, on the sidelines of the UNGA session, and will deliver the national statement at the General Debate on September 27. Earlier, preparations were being made for Modi to address the UNGA session on September 26, but, in the wake of the changed circumstances and the chill in the India-US relationship, the plans were changed. Trump is scheduled to address the UNGA on September 23. His first speech at the UN in his second term will be widely watched by capitals across the world, including New Delhi.
