**President Donald Trump Hints at Possible Reduction in Tariffs on India Amid Ambassador Sergio Gor’s Swearing-In**
President Donald Trump has indicated that tariffs imposed on India may be reduced soon, coinciding with longtime loyalist Sergio Gor being sworn in as the U.S. ambassador to New Delhi. During Gor’s swearing-in ceremony on Monday, President Trump emphasized that Gor’s top priority would be to promote investment in key U.S. industries and increase U.S. energy exports to India.
Trump explained that tariffs on India have been high primarily because India has been purchasing oil from Russia. However, he added that these tariffs are expected to be lowered soon, noting that India has substantially decreased its imports of Russian crude oil.
Contrary to Trump’s claim, market research firm Kpler reported that India’s imports of Russian oil remained nearly unchanged, at 1.59 million barrels per day (mbd) in both September and October. The tank tracker also noted that about 1.73 mbd of Russian oil exports in October are currently headed to India, while another 302,000 barrels per day have no assigned destination, though some of this could be shipped to India. Kpler cautioned, however, that it is still too early to get a clear picture of November’s import data.
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**Trump Hopes Ambassador Gor Will Strengthen U.S.-India Ties**
President Trump expressed his expectation that Ambassador Gor will help strengthen the strategic partnership between the U.S. and India. He also highlighted that expanding security cooperation would be among the ambassador’s key objectives.
The Senate confirmed Gor’s nomination as U.S. ambassador to India on October 7, and Gor arrived in New Delhi shortly afterwards. Upon arrival, Gor met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss critical issues such as trade, defense, technology, and mineral resources.
Alexandra Hermann of Oxford Economics commented on the appointment, stating that a political ambassador like Gor—rather than a traditional diplomat—is necessary to expedite negotiations. Hermann observed that while this approach can accelerate progress, it also carries risks if diplomatic ties sour between the two countries.
According to Hermann, Gor’s appointment reflects the White House’s strategy to establish a faster and more direct link to New Delhi, effectively bypassing traditional diplomatic bureaucracy. This move signals the administration’s intent to reach a trade agreement with India sooner rather than later.
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**Challenges Ahead: Rajan Highlights Complexity of U.S.-India Relations**
Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan recently addressed the challenges in repairing the strained relationship between Washington and New Delhi. He suggested that restoring ties may not be straightforward, given ongoing issues such as steep tariffs, President Trump’s frequent involvement, repeated claims of mediation efforts, and the introduction of a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas.
Rajan, who is now a professor of finance at the University of Chicago Booth School, recalled that during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, when President Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger supported Pakistan, India grew closer to Russia for the following 25 years.
He asserted, “It can’t be that you are the most tariffed country in the world, more than even China, and then talk about military friendship and joint maneuvers.”
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**India’s Continued Engagement with Russia**
The Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), operating under India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry, released a statement on Monday confirming that India’s commercial engagement with Russia is ongoing. This week, a delegation of 20 Indian companies participated in the annual Moscow International Tool Expo.
FIEO President SC Ralhan noted that India’s engineering exports to Russia are growing rapidly and are projected to reach $1.75 billion by the end of 2025. He added that the participation in the expo will strengthen commercial ties and further boost bilateral trade between the two countries.
In fiscal year 2025, India imported $63.83 billion worth of goods from Russia, while exporting $4.88 billion back to the country.
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