India says U.S. trade negotiations still ongoing, with lines India needs to defend

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Saturday that trade talks with the United States are ongoing but stressed that there are “lines India needs to defend,” just days before fresh U.S. tariffs take effect. Washington has already imposed a 25 percent levy on Indian goods, with another 25 percent set to be enforced on August 27, bringing total tariffs to as high as 50 percent. The measures are linked to India’s increased purchases of Russian oil. A scheduled visit by U.S. trade negotiators to New Delhi was canceled, dimming hopes of a last-minute compromise. At the same time, President Donald Trump announced he would nominate his longtime aide Sergio Gor as the next U.S. ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asia.

Trade talks between the two countries collapsed earlier this year over India’s refusal to open its agricultural and dairy markets, despite bilateral trade already exceeding $190 billion. Analysts warn that if the tariffs remain in place, India’s growth could shrink by 0.8 percentage points both this year and next. Jaishankar described Trump’s public approach to foreign policy as “unusual” and noted that India’s Russian oil purchases had not been an issue in previous trade discussions before the tariff announcement.

Credit: CGTN