The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday asserted that India continues to remain engaged with the United States on trade negotiations, as Washington is a very important trade partner for New Delhi.
While addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that both countries share a comprehensive global strategic partnership, which is anchored in their shared interests, democratic values, and robust people-to-people ties.
“We continue to remain engaged with the US side on trade issues… We see the Quad as a valuable forum for discussion among the four member countries on shared interests on several issues. The leaders’ summit is scheduled through diplomatic consultations among the member countries… ” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “… We continue to remain engaged with the US side on trade issues… We see the Quad as a valuable forum for discussion among the four member countries on shared interests on several issues. The leaders’ summit is scheduled… pic.twitter.com/g4EBcy9Rfx
— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2025
The MEA’s response came amid growing tensions between New Delhi and Washington over trade as Donald Trump’s administration has imposed 25% reciprocal duties on Indian goods and an additional 25% levy tied to India’s purchase of Russian crude, bringing the total to 50%- among the highest tariffs in the world.
Earlier today, Trump shared a post saying that America has “lost India and Russia to China,” sharing a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping walking together at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
“Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
Meanwhile, the MEA declined to respond to the Truth Social Post.
He has repeatedly accused India of “fueling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine” by buying discounted oil, even while Washington has held back from direct sanctions on Moscow.
In a separate post earlier this week, Trump described the US-India trade relationship as a “one-sided disaster,” writing that India sold “massive amounts of goods” to the US but bought “very little” in return. He also criticised India’s reliance on Russian oil and defence supplies, saying it purchased “very little from the US.”
