US threats to sanction countries that buy Russian oil may complicate ongoing
US-India trade negotiations, people familiar with the matter said. Sources said
India was surprised because purchases of Russian oil had been resolved in talks
that produced a preliminary trade deal in February and the issue had not been
raised in subsequent rounds. After the US Supreme Court overturned former
President Trump’s so-called reciprocal-tariff policy, India has not signed the
preliminary agreement. India is seeking more favorable terms than regional
rivals before advancing the deal and is unlikely to publicly criticize the new
US sanctions bill; sources expect New Delhi to continue engagement and treat
current tensions as a transitional phase in bilateral relations.
