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India, U.S. Call Trade Talks 'Constructive' as Tariff Dispute Centers on Russian Oil

Washington has tied tariff relief to cuts in Russian oil purchases, making energy policy the decisive hurdle.

EAM S. Jaishankar at G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York | Image: @DrSJaishankar
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin share a car together to the venue of their bilateral meeting, in Tianjin on Monday.

Overview

  • India’s Commerce Ministry said a Sept. 22–24 visit to Washington yielded constructive meetings and a decision to keep negotiating toward an early, phased trade pact.
  • Overall duties on Indian goods remain at 50%, including a 25% punitive levy linked to Russian crude purchases on top of a 25% reciprocal tariff, with New Delhi pushing to remove the penalty.
  • U.S. officials described energy discussions as progressing, with a potential outcome in weeks, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said India is expected to gradually reduce Russian oil buys.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s “time-tested” partnership with Russia, while the foreign ministry said Russian energy imports ensure predictable and affordable supplies for consumers.
  • New Delhi formally rejected NATO chief Mark Rutte’s claim of a Modi–Putin call as “entirely baseless,” and U.S. officials reiterated that visa issues, including H‑1B fee changes, are not part of the trade talks.