New Delhi hopes Trump reconsiders tariffs, resumes trade talks

India hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump will recognize the importance of the strategic partnership and open the way for trade talks between the two countries, a source in the Indian government told TASS.

“We hope that Trump will acknowledge our strategic partnership, our sincerity, and open dialogue for trade negotiations,” the source said.

He recalled that India’s traditional approach in foreign policy is based on the principle of “friendship with all.”

“We should have no enemies anywhere. That is our fundamental approach,” he emphasized.

On August 16, the Indian newspaper The Financial Express reported that U.S. negotiators had canceled a planned trip to New Delhi at the end of August for the sixth round of talks on an India-U.S. trade agreement. The U.S. delegation was expected to arrive on August 25 and stay until August 30. The consultations were seen as crucial for easing trade tensions. The newspaper’s source noted that India cannot stop purchasing oil from Russia, given the “large difference in monetary terms.”

On August 6, the United States announced an increase in tariffs on imports from India by 25% (up to 50%) in response to its purchases of Russian oil and petroleum products. Trump criticized the country for “always buying most of its military equipment from Russia” and being “alongside China, one of the largest buyers” of Russian energy resources. India’s Ministry of External Affairs called U.S. and EU criticism over Russian oil imports unjustified.

Following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump suggested that Washington might refrain from imposing import tariffs on Russia’s trade partners.

By Khagan Isayev