The US has sought to bring India’s oil purchases from Russia into negotiations on a trade deal, people familiar with the matter said, even as the South Asian nation’s refiners ramp up those imports to meet rising domestic demand.
A US team led by Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch pressed the issue with Indian negotiators in a meeting on Tuesday, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public. The demand is unusual, since a nation’s ties with a third country are rarely part of bilateral trade talks.
India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry didn’t respond to a request for comment. The office of the US Trade Representative also declined to comment.
A team of US officials was in New Delhi for a day of talks earlier this week, as the two sides sought to ease tensions after President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on India — one of the highest in Asia.
Signs of a thaw emerged after Trump called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday this week, raising cautious optimism in New Delhi about a trade deal.
During the Tuesday talks, India pressed for scrapping the additional 25% levy over its Russian energy purchases, the people said, suggesting no easy resolution is in sight. The Indian government has called the extra tariffs “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” and defended its consumption of Russian oil as necessary for energy security.
India’s refiners have no plans to curb Russian crude purchases as domestic fuel demand rises after the monsoon, and the government has issued no order to pull back, Bloomberg reported on Friday.
After the Tuesday meeting, both nations had said the talks were “positive” and covered various aspects of the trade deal. They also agreed to “intensify” efforts to reach a deal.
The US and India had previously committed to a bilateral agreement to be completed by the fall of this year, but negotiations collapsed after both sides hardened their positions and Trump began putting pressure on New Delhi over its ties with Moscow. Washington is also seeking greater access to India’s dairy and farm sectors, which New Delhi is reluctant to open up.
Add Now!
A US team led by Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch pressed the issue with Indian negotiators in a meeting on Tuesday, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public. The demand is unusual, since a nation’s ties with a third country are rarely part of bilateral trade talks.
India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry didn’t respond to a request for comment. The office of the US Trade Representative also declined to comment.
A team of US officials was in New Delhi for a day of talks earlier this week, as the two sides sought to ease tensions after President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on India — one of the highest in Asia.
Signs of a thaw emerged after Trump called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday this week, raising cautious optimism in New Delhi about a trade deal.
During the Tuesday talks, India pressed for scrapping the additional 25% levy over its Russian energy purchases, the people said, suggesting no easy resolution is in sight. The Indian government has called the extra tariffs “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” and defended its consumption of Russian oil as necessary for energy security.
India’s refiners have no plans to curb Russian crude purchases as domestic fuel demand rises after the monsoon, and the government has issued no order to pull back, Bloomberg reported on Friday.
After the Tuesday meeting, both nations had said the talks were “positive” and covered various aspects of the trade deal. They also agreed to “intensify” efforts to reach a deal.
The US and India had previously committed to a bilateral agreement to be completed by the fall of this year, but negotiations collapsed after both sides hardened their positions and Trump began putting pressure on New Delhi over its ties with Moscow. Washington is also seeking greater access to India’s dairy and farm sectors, which New Delhi is reluctant to open up.
Add 
as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
