US Official Slams EU Over India Trade Deal
A senior US administration official criticised the European Union for signing a trade deal with India while the United States and India continue their own trade discussions. The official said the US has “made bigger sacrifices” — including imposing high tariffs on Indian imports linked to energy policy — yet Europe moved ahead quickly with a pact with New Delhi.
Tariffs and Russia Oil Issue
The US official said Washington had imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods as part of efforts to pressure changes in energy trade patterns, including India’s past purchases of Russian crude. The official argued that while the US held firm on tariffs, European countries concluding a trade agreement with India now seemed contradictory to those efforts. The remarks reflect frustration in some US policy circles over the pace and direction of India’s international trade partnerships amid broader global geopolitical competition.
Broader Trade Context
The criticism came as India and the EU near the formal announcement of their free trade agreement after long negotiations. The US and India have been in separate talks to enhance bilateral economic ties, but a comprehensive agreement has not yet been finalised. Officials from India and the EU have called their deal historic and a step toward deeper economic cooperation.
