WASHINGTON (Dunya News) – India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington as New Delhi faces increasing domestic pressure to disclose full details of a newly announced India-US trade agreement. According to a US State Department readout cited by Indian media, both sides welcomed the trade deal agreed earlier this week between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussions also focused on strengthening cooperation in critical minerals, which are essential for global supply chains linked to clean energy technologies, batteries, and advanced manufacturing. The meeting was held ahead of a US-hosted ministerial on critical minerals. Jaishankar said in a social media post that the talks covered a wide range of issues, including trade, energy, defence, nuclear cooperation, and developments in the Indo-Pacific region. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio and Jaishankar reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad, stressing that a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains central to shared strategic interests. The two leaders also discussed unlocking new economic opportunities and advancing common energy security goals. Under the broad framework of the trade deal announced so far, the United States is expected to reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 percent, down from 25 percent. In return, India would lower trade barriers for a range of American exports and increase imports from the US, particularly in the energy sector. However, opposition parties in India have criticised the government for not releasing the full text of the agreement, including timelines and enforcement mechanisms. The Indian National Congress has demanded that Parliament be briefed before implementation, warning that the deal could expose domestic industries and farmers to increased foreign competition. Reuters has reported that India has excluded key agricultural commodities such as rice, beef, soybeans, sugar, and dairy from the deal, similar to its recent trade agreement with the European Union. An Indian government official told Reuters that India plans to gradually increase purchases of US petroleum, aircraft, defence equipment, telecommunications goods, and pharmaceuticals under the agreement. The deal reportedly includes a multi-year commitment by India to buy up to $500 billion worth of American goods.