Saralnama
Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra has met with 19 US senators and Congress members since August 9 to discuss balanced trade relations and energy cooperation amid tariff tensions between India and the US. Recent meetings included discussions with Representatives Claudia Tenney, Jonathan L Jackson, and Haley Stevens, focusing on the importance of fair trade ties and India’s growing hydrocarbon purchases from the US as part of its energy security. Kwatra thanked lawmakers for their support of US-India relations. These diplomatic engagements come after US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs totaling 50 percent on Indian imports, including a 25 percent tariff on India’s purchases of Russian oil effective August 27. India defends its energy procurement as driven by national interest and market dynamics, having turned to discounted Russian oil following Western sanctions on Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. (Updated 23 Aug 2025, 13:58 IST; source: link)