Rubio says India did not raise concerns over proposed US generic drug tariffs in Manila talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said India did not raise concerns about proposed US tariffs on generic drugs during his meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Manila. The two officials met on the sidelines of ASEAN-related diplomacy on Wednesday and discussed trade, tariffs, energy, defence, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.

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Rubio said the United States remains "very close" to India and described the relationship as vitally important. Rubio told reporters that the discussion did not go into depth on pharmaceuticals, although he said he would expect India to be concerned about the issue. He added that New Delhi did not raise the matter during the meeting.

Jaishankar also said in a social media post that the talks focused on priority areas for the India-United States comprehensive global strategic partnership, including trade and tariffs, energy, defence and security, critical minerals and artificial intelligence. The meeting comes at a sensitive moment for trade ties between the two countries, with tariffs on generic drugs potentially affecting a sector that is important to India's export profile. Generic medicines are a major part of India's pharmaceutical industry, and any change in US tariff policy could have implications for pricing, market access and supply chains.

The discussion also covered regional security and the Quad, underlining that the relationship extends beyond trade into strategic cooperation. The exchange in Manila also reflected broader efforts by Washington and New Delhi to keep diplomatic and economic channels open despite unresolved trade issues. Rubio said the two sides also discussed defence agreements, while Jaishankar's account highlighted energy and critical minerals, both of which have become more important as governments seek to diversify supply chains.

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The mention of artificial intelligence suggests the relationship is also expanding into newer technology policy areas. The talks took place against the backdrop of the India-United States comprehensive global strategic partnership, which has grown in scope over recent years. That partnership has increasingly linked commercial issues with security coordination in the Indo-Pacific, where both countries work with partners through the Quad.

The Manila meeting therefore carried significance not only for tariff policy but also for the wider direction of bilateral ties. What remains unclear is whether the proposed generic drug tariffs will be adjusted, delayed or implemented as announced. It is also not known whether India will raise the issue more formally in later talks with US officials.

For now, the Manila meeting suggests both sides are trying to manage the dispute while keeping broader cooperation on trade, security and technology on track.

#India #UnitedStates #MarcoRubio #SJaishankar #tariffs

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