A $500 billion question hangs over Rubio’s India trade claim as original tariff bargain loses its footing
May 25, 2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s claim that India has committed to buying $500 billion worth of American goods over the next five years has run straight into a reality check from the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), which says the logic of the underlying trade deal itself may have already collapsed.
Rubio, currently in India (May 23–26, 2026), posted on X thanking American diplomats and claiming that India had committed to major purchases across energy, technology and agriculture sectors.
“Huge thanks to @USAmbIndia Sergio Gor and our American diplomats for their efforts. Because of their great work, India has committed to purchasing $500 billion in U.S. goods over the next five years focusing on energy, technology, and agriculture,” he wrote.
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