The United States and India are close to solving distinctions over a trade offer, President Donald Trump’s choice for ambassador stated Thursday, while repeating needs that New Delhi stop purchasing Russian oil.
“We are not that far apart today on an offer. They’re working out the fundamentals of an offer,” Sergio Gor informed a Senate committee in his election hearing in Washington. Indian mediators are anticipated to consult with Trade Representative Jamieson Greer next week, he stated.
India’s purchases of Russian oil stay a crucial source of stress in the relationship, however, and it’s uncertain how that would be solved in the trade offer. Trump slapped India with 50% tariffs in August, half of which was a charge for the Russian energy purchases, which he states is assisting President Vladimir Putin fund his war in Ukraine.
“We anticipate more from India than we do often from other countries,” Gor stated. Getting India to stop purchasing Russian oil is a “leading concern” for the Trump administration, he stated.
Earlier Thursday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick informed CNBC the India trade offer depends upon its trade with Russia. “I believe India, we’ll arrange it out as soon as they stop purchasing Russian oil,” he stated.
The United States and India are resuming trade talks after weeks of a bitter fight, with Trump stating today he’ll consult with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming weeks. The United States president chose Gor, a close White House assistant, to the ambassador post last month. Gor will likewise end up being Trump’s unique envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs.
Indian authorities have actually struggled to engage with the Trump administration in part since significant diplomacy functions– consisting of the ambassador post– have actually been empty for so long, Bloomberg News has actually reported.
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Released on September 12, 2025
