In a sharp interview with CNBC, White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro on Sunday claimed that India is finally moving towards the negotiating table in its trade standoff with the United States.
“India is coming to the table. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out a very conciliatory, nice, constructive tweet, and President Trump responded to that. We’ll see how this works,” Navarro said, hinting at a thaw in the tense economic relations between the two nations.
However, Navarro did not hold back his criticism. He accused India of maintaining the “highest tariffs of any major country” and erecting “very high non-tariff barriers” that, according to him, continue to hurt American businesses.
Navarro then shifted focus to India’s energy trade with Moscow after the Russia–Ukraine war began in February 2022.
“India never bought Russian oil before 2022. But immediately after the invasion, Indian refiners got in bed with Russian refiners and are making out like bandits… American workers get screwed, right?” he charged.
Slamming India’s diplomatic balancing act, Navarro added: “Then they use that money to buy Russian oil, and then the Russians use that to buy weapons. And then we, as taxpayers, have to pay more for Ukraine’s defence. Watching Modi on stage with China and Putin was an interesting stretch. I don’t think he felt comfortable doing it.”
Meanwhile, US Assistant Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch is set to arrive in India tonight to continue negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement. Talks are scheduled for Tuesday with India’s chief negotiator, Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.
