• Source:JND
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US President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, told senators on Wednesday that Washington and New Delhi are close to finalising a long-awaited trade deal. Speaking at his Senate confirmation hearing, Gor said the two countries are now negotiating the “nitty-gritty” details of the agreement.

Pressed on why India had been hit with heavy tariffs while China escaped harsher penalties, Gor said the US holds allies to higher expectations. “Look, we hold our friends to different standards. We expect more from India than we do from other nations,” he told lawmakers.

The Trump administration has imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal duty on Indian goods, alongside an additional 25 per cent levy linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil. Together, these measures leave India facing one of the highest tariff burdens globally at 50 per cent. Trump has accused India of “fueling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine” by buying discounted crude, though he has stopped short of imposing direct sanctions on Moscow.

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Common Values And Shared Interests

Despite tensions over tariffs, Gor stressed that India is among America’s closest partners. “India shares far more in common with us than with China. For too long we lacked a personal touch. I will bring that to New Delhi, and President Trump is also engaged,” he said.

He also pledged to ensure that “Indians are pulled in our direction, not away,” citing active negotiations to resolve trade imbalances and strengthen cooperation. On the India-Pakistan front, Gor pointed to Trump’s record of “engaging with peace efforts around the world” and said the US would remain a steady partner in promoting stability.

Russian Oil A Sticking Point

Asked about priorities, Gor was clear, “Getting India to stop buying Russian oil is the top priority of this administration.” His comments echo Washington’s broader concerns that India’s energy imports are indirectly supporting Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

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The remarks come as Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said negotiations with the US are progressing well. “In February 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump together instructed us that the ministers of both sides should make a good agreement by November 2025. The first tranche of that agreement should be finalised by then,” Goyal said.