U.S. President Donald Trump faces a fresh test of his political diplomacy with India as longtime loyalist Sergio Gor takes up his post as ambassador in New Delhi, amid tension over trade and Russian oil imports, which have weighed on the two countries’ strategic ties.
At Gor’s swearing-in ceremony on Monday, Trump said Washington may soon lower tariffs on Indian goods, suggesting both sides are moving closer to a trade deal.
“The tariffs on India are really high because of the Russian oil [imports], but they have now substantially reduced Russian oil [imports], so we will be bringing the tariffs down,” Trump said.
However, data from market research firm Kpler showed that India’s imports of Russian crude were largely unchanged in October at 1.59 million barrels per day (mbd) from September.
“So far, 1.73 mbd of October Russian exports have been signaled to India, with another 302 kbd (thousand barrels per day) not yet showing a final destination (a portion of which could also end up in India),” the tank tracker said, adding “it’s still too early to draw a clear picture for November”.
