The United States is making progress in trade talks with India, according to top US trade official Jamieson Greer. Speaking at the Economic Club of New York, Greer described India’s stance in the negotiations as “pragmatic” and said both countries are working hard toward a deal.
Greer explained that discussions with India have been ongoing since the Trump administration took office. He pointed to a proposed 50 percent tariff on India, noting that about half of it—25 percent—stems from trade imbalances they’re aiming to fix through a reciprocal agreement. “We’re trying to negotiate a deal,” Greer said.
This comes right after Greer met with India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New York on September 22. Sources say the talks tackled major hurdles, and both sides feel optimistic about an interim trade understanding soon. India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry called the meetings “constructive,” adding that officials shared ideas on the deal’s shape and agreed to keep talking for a “mutually beneficial trade agreement.”
Greer also addressed the extra 25 percent tariffs the US slapped on India for buying Russian oil. He stressed that America isn’t trying to boss around a sovereign nation like India. “India hasn’t always bought so much Russian oil—it’s not a core part of their economy,” Greer noted. He added that India gets the US push to end the war in Ukraine and is already shifting its energy sources. “I think they get it. I can already see them starting to diversify.”
India isn’t the only one in the spotlight, Greer said. The US has urged European allies—who some are still buying Russian oil, which he called “crazy”—and China to cut ties too. “We just need to end this war,” he emphasized.
On the diplomatic front, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week during the UN General Assembly. Rubio highlighted India’s “critical” role to the US and praised the growing trade dialogue. In a follow-up NBC News interview, Rubio hinted the administration might ease those Russian oil tariffs on India. “We’ve seen the measures we’ve taken with regard to India, although that’s something we hope we can fix,” he said.
Rubio also criticized European countries for not doing enough to resolve the Ukraine conflict. From India’s side, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal defended buying Russian energy, insisting on no “double standards.” He pointed out the Trump administration’s own calls for the EU, NATO, and G7 to stop Russian oil and gas imports.
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