EAM, Goyal meet US officials to steady ties

Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar met US secretary of state Marco Rubio in New York on Monday and discussed a range of bilateral and international issues of "current concern", the meeting coming days after the US slapped a steep fee on the popular H-1B visas.

- Shashank Mattoo

External affairs minister S Jaishankar with US secretary of state Marco Rubio at the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly on Monday.

(AP)

The meeting at Lotte New York Palace on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly is the first face-to-face interaction between them following President Donald Trump's imposition of an additional 25% tariff on India for purchases of Russian oil, taking the total levies to 50%.

"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 said on X. Jaishankar also met Sergio Gor, Trump's pick for Washington's India ambassador.

The meetings came on a day Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal met United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York in an effort to accelerate trade talks between the two countries. People aware of the talks said that both sides were hopeful that the meeting would yield a positive breakthrough, and help New Delhi and Washington reach a trade deal.