Overview

• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal are in the United States for accelerated negotiations on a phased bilateral trade agreement after five formal rounds.
• US punitive measures lifting effective tariffs on many Indian goods to about 50% remain in place, with officials linking the penalties to India’s discounted purchases of Russian crude.
• Energy Secretary Chris Wright urged New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil and said Washington seeks to expand energy trade with India rather than punish it.
• Goyal said India expects to increase energy commerce with the United States and called US involvement a significant element of India’s long‑term energy security plans.
• A senior State Department official acknowledged short‑term turbulence, described ties as on a positive trajectory, and indicated a Modi–Trump meeting is in the works.