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In
August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to
place an additional 25% tariff on India for its purchases of
Russian oil, bringing the combined tariffs imposed by the United
States to a steep 50%.
A close aide of Trump, the new ambassador-designate, Sergio Gor,
said the next call between the two sides on trade-related
matters was scheduled Tuesday.
“Real friends can disagree, but always resolve their differences
in the end,” Gor said in an address on his first day in office
at the U.S. Embassy. “Remember India is the world’s largest
nation so it’s not an easy task to get this across the finish
line, but we are determined to get there.”
Gor, who is also the U.S. special envoy to South and Central
Asia, announced that India will be formally invited next month
to join a U.S.-led strategic initiative called Pax Silica as
part of a broader partnership.
The initiative aims to build a secure silicon supply chain, from
critical minerals and energy inputs to advanced manufacturing,
semiconductors and artificial intelligence. Nations that joined
it last month include Japan, South Korea, U.K. and Israel.
Gor’s comments on bolstering trade and economic ties with India
highlights a renewed push to anchor the partnership at a time
the relationship has strained following Washington’s mounting
pressure on New Delhi to stop buying discounted Russian crude
oil.
India and the U.S. have been negotiating a bilateral trade
agreement since early last year. They hoped to conclude the
first tranche by the fall of 2025, but it hasn’t come through
mainly due to differences over sourcing of Russian oil, and
Indian negotiators facing pressure to protect small farmers and
domestic industries.
Gor said trade was an important aspect of the relationship, but
the countries will also continue to work closely in areas such
as security, counter terrorism, energy, technology, education
and health.
In the face of steep U.S. tariffs, India has in recent months
accelerated a push to finalize several free trade agreements. It
signed one with Oman last month and concluded talks with New
Zealand.
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