new delhi, Aug. 4 -- India's state-run oil marketers are in joint discussions with US firms to secure cooking gas supplies beginning next year, three people aware of the development said, indicating a potential deepening of energy ties. The companies-Indian Oil Corp. Ltd, Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd-are likely to sign near-identical contracts with the selected partners, the people said on the condition of anonymity. The negotiations, happening against the backdrop of the US tariff on Indian goods, support the target set by both countries earlier this year to increase their energy trade to $20 billion. "Indian OMCs are in talks, collectively, with at least a dozen LPG suppliers in the US. The negotiations are...