New Delhi: With India-US trade talks back on track after renewed warmth between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the American chief negotiator Brendan Lynch is set to arrive in India on Monday night.
Lynch, who serves as the Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, will formally resume discussions with his Indian counterpart, Commerce Department Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, on Tuesday, according to sources.
The visit marks a restart of negotiations that were initially scheduled between August 25 and 29 but were called off amid escalating tensions over steep tariffs imposed by Washington. The US had levied duties of up to 50 per cent on Indian products, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil, which Washington claimed was “funding the Ukraine war.”
While India questioned the US stance and asserted its sovereign right to pursue energy deals in its national interest, the US side issued heated remarks, even referencing caste and personal jibes. Since then, the situation has eased, with New Delhi underscoring its historic ties with Moscow and signaling a thaw with Beijing.
President Trump has recently described the Russia-Ukraine war and oil sanctions as “more of a Europe problem,” urging the European Union to impose tariffs on China instead, while notably sparing India from criticism.
The resumption of trade talks follows a thaw on social media interactions between Trump and Modi, fueling expectations of a renewed effort to resolve differences and move towards a potential deal.
