A high-level US trade delegation, led by Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday for crucial talks with Indian officials on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
The visit signals a potential thaw in India-US trade relations after weeks of sharp criticism from Washington, particularly over New Delhi’s purchase of discounted Russian oil.
White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, speaking to CNBC, said that India was now willing to engage:
“India is coming to the table. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out a very conciliatory, nice, constructive tweet, and President Trump responded to that. We will see how this works,” Navarro said.
Top Updates on the Trade Talks:
-
Key negotiators: India’s side will be led by Rajesh Agrawal, Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce.
-
Focus areas: Talks are expected to address punitive 25% tariffs imposed by the US over India’s Russian oil imports and discuss progress on a possible free trade agreement.
-
Tariff concerns: Navarro reiterated that the US remains concerned about India’s “highest tariffs of any major economy” and non-tariff barriers, saying they must be addressed to level the playing field for American workers.
-
Russian oil imports: Navarro criticised India’s post-2022 oil purchases from Russia, saying Indian refiners were “making out like bandits” and profiting unfairly while US workers were hurt by the trade imbalance.
The talks are expected to continue over the next few days, with observers watching closely for a breakthrough that could revive momentum towards a comprehensive trade deal between the two countries.
