Overview
- Speaking at the White House, President Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said discussions are progressing, and responded that a 2026 trip to India “could be” on his schedule.
- Trump asserted India has “largely stopped” buying Russian oil, a claim India’s Ministry of External Affairs has pushed back on as it stresses energy decisions guided by national interest.
- The United States currently applies a 50% tariff on Indian goods, including a 25% penalty tied to purchases of Russian crude, which remains a central point of friction in the talks.
- Negotiators have completed five rounds since March with an eye to finishing a first phase by the end of 2025, and officials on both sides describe recent exchanges as serious and positive.
- The White House says the leaders speak frequently, while broader pressures include U.S. Supreme Court scrutiny of tariff authority and fresh U.S. sanctions on Russian oil firms that analysts say are already shaping Indian refiners’ buying.