Page 43 - Us India Relations

De-dollarisation of oil purchases has never been objective: Hardeep Puri

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep S Puri said on Friday that de-dollarisation of oil purchases was never the objective, emphasising that "most transactions are in dollars and always have been". Instead, he clarified that the primary objective is to procure sufficient oil "at lower prices" to help control inflation. "De-dollarisation is not an objective at all. Most of these (oil) transactions are in dollars and always have been. We had one transaction in rupees, but I think it was a very small one. Transactions in rupees are a good thing, but it takes two to tango," Puri told PTI during a press conference. Exuding confidence that India has established contacts with the new US administration led by President Donald Trump, he said the Indo-American relationship on the energy front will deepen. According to the Union Minister, India is already purchasing energy worth up to USD 20 billion from the US, emphasising that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently had a very ...

'Deeply concerning': MEA reacts to Trump's claim on $21 mn USAID funding

Relevant departments and agencies are looking into this matter, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Donald Trump's remarks regarding the '$21 million allocation to India for voter turnout'

VP Jagdeep Dhankhar urges exposure of those behind attack on democracy

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday voiced concern over the alleged USAID funding for raising voter turnout in India, saying people who allowed such an attack on the country's democratic values should be exposed. He also said that it was the "national duty" of people to strike at such forces. Addressing an event in Miami on Thursday, US President Donald Trump once again questioned the USAID funding of USD 21 million for voter turnout in India, and said "I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected". Speaking at an event on meditation here, Dhankhar said the remarks on USAID funding came from a person of authority and that it was a fact that money was given. Calling for the use of "Chanakya niti" to get into the root of the controversy, he said the problem should be eradicated from its roots. "People who allowed such kind of an attack (to allegedly damage the electoral purity) should be exposed," he said. He also said delivering a body blow to such forces is the ...

India must push 'zero for zero' strategy to address US tariffs threat: GTRI

India should propose a 'zero-for-zero' tariff strategy to the US for addressing America's proposed reciprocal tariff hikes, as it would be less harmful than negotiating a full bilateral trade agreement, economic think tank GTRI said in its report on Friday. Under this strategy, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) suggested the government identify tariff lines (or product categories) where India can eliminate import duties for American imports without harming domestic industries and agriculture. In lieu of that, the US should also remove duties on a similar number of goods. India can exclude most agriculture items from this list and to prepare it, India can refer to its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) tariff offers to Japan, Korea, and ASEAN as a starting point, it added. GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said this list should be discussed with the US before April, ahead of its reciprocal tariff announcement. It will be like doing a quick FTA in goods and if the US accepts, the ...

Indian drugmakers bank on bilateral talks for relief from US tariffs

India, which calls itself the 'pharmacy of the world', makes cheaper generic versions of complex innovative drugs in its massive factory clusters and exports them to over 200 countries

'Please help us': Indians among 300 US deportees stranded in Panama

Nearly 300 US deportees, including Indians, stranded in Panama as the authorities scramble to send them home. Detainees plead for aid from hotel windows

Foreign secy Misri briefs Parliamentary body following PM Modi's US visit

India-US relations were at the centre of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's briefing to a parliamentary committee here on Wednesday, with members quizzing him on a host of issues, including the deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the US. Sources said Misri assured members of the Standing Committee on External Affairs about the measures being taken by the Indian government to ensure that deportees are not mistreated. The committee's chairperson Shashi Tharoor said it was a "very thorough briefing", noting that the discussion focused mostly on the US because of Prime Minister Narendra Moi's recent visit to the country. The meeting's agenda was "current foreign policy developments". Tharoor said, "Every question you can imagine to do with the Indo-US relationship in the context of the prime minister's visit was raised, discussed and the foreign secretary gave all necessary answers." Other issues involving current developments, including the visit of the Qatar Amir to India, w

Bharat Forge unit inks pact with US' AM General to supply artillery cannons

Bharat Forge on Wednesday said its subsidiary has inked a pact with AM General, USA to supply made-in-India advanced artillery cannons. Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd (KSSL) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) at IDEX 2025 in AbuDhabi, the company said in a regulatory filing. This marks the first-ever supply of cannons from an Indian defence manufacturer to the US, a testament to the strengthening bilateral defence cooperation between our two nations, it added. "It is a testament to our capabilities and a major advancement in our mission to be a world leading artillery solutions provider. This agreement underscores the trust and confidence that global defence leaders, such as AM General, place in our capabilities," Bharat Forge Chairman & Managing Director Baba Kalyani said. AM General Executive Vice President John Chadbourne said the Letter of Intent with KSSL represents an important step in expanding the strategic partnership. "Given KSSL's proven artillery capabilities and our .

US invokes Hague Service Convention in Adani bribery probe: What is it?

The US SEC has invoked the Hague Service Convention to serve legal documents to Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani. Here's you need to know about the convention

India-US trade deal on the horizon: Piyush Goyal hints at talks soon

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Washington, both countries announced an ambitious plan to more than double their trade by 2030

India, US complement each other, can offer mutual trade concessions: Goyal

India and the US are committed to increasing bilateral trade to USD 500 billion and negotiating a "strong" trade agreement within the next 6-8 months, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. During the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington, India and the US announced to more than double the two-way commerce to USD 500 billion by 2030 and negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by fall of 2025. Goyal said once his US counterpart takes charge, both countries will discuss the contours of the pact. "...In the next 6-8 months, by establishing a strong trade agreement, we are committed to increasing trade to USD 500 billion," Goyal told reporters here on the sidelines of CII's India-Qatar Business Forum meet. He added businesses of both the countries are excited about the agreement. When asked if the pact would have chapters related to goods, services and investments, he said, "My ...

'Risked our lives': US deportees from Punjab recall perilous 'donkey route'

Promised a legal entry into the US, ex-serviceman Mandeep Singh had to trim his beard despite being a Sikh and risk life and limb as he dealt with crocodiles and snakes while going without food for days. But his dream to secure a better life for his family in Amritsar came crashing down on January 27 when he was arrested by the US Border Patrol while trying to sneak into America via Tijuana in Mexico. Mandeep, 38, was part of the 116 Indians to be deported by a US military aircraft that landed at the Amritsar airport late on Saturday, the second such batch of Indians to be sent back after February 5 amid a crackdown by the Donald Trump administration against illegal immigrants. The third batch of 112 deportees reached Amritsar on Sunday night. Speaking to reporters in Amritsar, Mandeep said he is an ex-serviceman. He decided to try his luck in the US to better support his family and thought that the agent would send him there legally. He also showed several videos of the perilous

India's exports to US increase 39% to $8.44 bn in January: Govt data

India's exports to the US rose by 39 per cent year-on-year to USD 8.44 billion in January, while imports grew by 33.46 per cent to USD 3.57 billion, according to the commerce ministry data. Cumulatively, the country's exports to the US during April-January grew by 8.95 per cent to USD 68.46 billion against USD 62.84 billion in the same period previous fiscal, the data showed. During 2021-24, America was the largest trading partner of India. The US is one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus. In 2023-24, the US was the largest trading partner of India with USD 119.71 billion bilateral trade in goods (USD 77.51 billion worth of exports, USD 42.19 billion of imports and USD 35.31 billion trade surplus). The increasing trade assumes significance as the two countries are aiming at USD 500 billion two-way commerce by 2030 and a trade agreement.

Govt plans more tariff changes to curb US President Trump's trade threats

Weeks after she unveiled sweeping cuts to duties on imports from textiles to motorcycles, India's finance minister said that she will carry on the process of reforming the nation's tariff regime

PM Modi, Trump meet reaffirms strength of US-India partnership: USISPF

USISPF noted that PM Modi is the fourth world leader that Trump met in his first month in office, which showcases the importance and heft of the bilateral relationship

Highlights: Congress demands resignation of Ashwini Vaishnaw over deadly stampede at NDLS

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Announcement on India-US trade pact has lifted business confidence: Goyal

Both countries will hold talks to increase market access, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, and deepen supply chain integration

BJP targets Cong after US cancels programme for 'voter turnout' in India

The BJP on Sunday claimed that a US-funded programme, now cancelled, linked to voter turnout in India is a pointer to the previous Congress-led UPA government allegedly enabling infiltration of Indian institutions by forces opposed to the country's interests. BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya said on X, "It is becoming increasingly evident that the Congress-led UPA systematically enabled the infiltration of India's institutions by forces opposed to the nation's interests - those who seek to weaken India at every opportunity." Once again, he alleged, it is the billionaire US-based investor George Soros, a "known associate" of the Congress party and the Gandhis, whose shadow looms over our electoral process. Malviya said the Election Commission in 2012 had signed an MoU with The International Foundation for Electoral Systems' an organisation linked to Soros' Open Society Foundation, which is primarily funded by USAID. In a swipe at the Congress, he said those questioning the ...

India-US TRUST, IMEC to drive economic, infra cooperation: Experts

India-US TRUST (Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) will pave the way for economic and technological cooperation between the two countries, while focus on the IMEC framework will deepen collaboration in infrastructure and economic corridors, according to industry experts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump have agreed on the TRUST initiative, to emphasise on creating strong supply chains of critical minerals, advanced materials, and pharmaceuticals. As per a joint statement issued after the Trump-Modi meeting in Washington, both countries have decided to launch a recovery and processing initiative for strategic minerals such as lithium and rare earth. The two sides will also work together on economic corridors and connectivity infrastructure under the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) and I2U2 frameworks. "TRUST initiative on critical minerals and advanced materials marks a significant step toward economic and technologi

Announcement of India-US trade agreement has boosted biz confidence: Goyal

The announcement to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement between India and the US has boosted business confidence in both countries, as it can help further strengthen economic ties by leveraging their competitive strengths, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday. During the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington, India and the US announced to more than double the two-way commerce to USD 500 billion by 2030 and negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by fall of 2025. "The Prime Minister has brought back with him an agreement or an understanding to enter into a trade deal by fall of this year. I think, it gives a lot of confidence and a lot of relief to every business person in the US and in India who believe that together, we can truly transform world trade, together with our competitive strengths in different areas, we can truly work as two friends, as two partners for progress and ...