Overview

• Sergio Gor told senators the Indian commerce and trade ministers have been invited to Washington next week and said the two sides are negotiating the nitty‑gritty of a deal that could be wrapped up within weeks.
• Fifty percent U.S. tariffs on Indian imports remain in force after being doubled from 25 percent on August 27, with officials tying progress to India ending purchases of Russian oil.
• Gor said getting India to stop buying Russian crude is a top administration priority, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the trade issue would be sorted out once India stops those purchases.
• As part of the talks, Washington is seeking greater access for American energy exports, with Gor saying the U.S. intends to open Indian markets to U.S. crude oil, petroleum products, and LNG.
• Even as talks restart, pressure signals continue: NATO envoy Matthew Whitaker urged coordinated additional sanctions and tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, and a Financial Times report cited by other outlets said the U.S. may press G7 and EU partners for higher tariffs on India and China.