ANKARA

India and the US will continue to hold talks on a trade agreement amid tensions over 50% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Indian imports, partly due to India’s continued purchasing of Russian oil during the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The decision to pursue further negotiations was made during meetings between a delegation from India and US officials in Washington.

Talks resumed earlier this month when US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch met Indian officials in New Delhi.

“The delegation had constructive meetings with the US Government on various aspects of the deal,” the Indian Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Friday, referring to the Indian team’s visit to Washington from Sept. 22–24.

The delegation was led by Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

The two sides “exchanged views on possible contours of the deal,” and it was “decided to continue the engagements with a view to achieving early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement,” according to the statement.

Bilateral ties between the two strategic partners have been strained since US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on New Delhi for purchasing Russian oil, as well as for failing to reach a trade deal.

India called the US levies “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”

The US is India’s largest trade partner, with total goods and services trade reaching an estimated $212.3 billion in 2024.

At the same time, New Delhi is pushing forward with its “Make in India” campaign amid trade tensions.

$7B deal for fighter jets

India’s Defense Ministry has signed a $7 billion contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the procurement of 97 Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk1A fighter jets.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027 – 28 and will be completed over a period of six years, the ministry said in a statement.

The project is expected to provide a “major boost to the domestic aerospace ecosystem” in India, it added.

The government's new fighter jet project comes after New Delhi decommissioned Russian-made MiG fighters, dubbed "flying coffins."

During the decommissioning ceremony of the Indian Air Force MiG-21 on Friday in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh described the jet as a “symbol of India’s rise in military aviation, a shield of national defense, and a faithful companion of the armed forces.”

According to Indian government data, 872 MiG aircraft of various types were purchased between 1966 and 1980. The data revealed that 482 MiG aircraft accidents occurred between 1971-72 and 2012-13, killing 171 pilots.