Trump: "Tariffs on Indian goods could be lowered soon"

Remarks after appointing loyalist Gor as ambassador to India

India's imports of Russian oil have not decreased significantly

U.S. President Trump said tariffs on Indian goods could be lowered soon.

On the 11th (local time), according to CNBC, at the swearing-in ceremony of Sergio Gor as ambassador to India the previous day, President Trump said, "Tariffs on India were high because of imports of Russian oil, but now that imports of Russian oil have significantly decreased, we will lower the tariffs." Gor is known as a long-time loyalist of President Trump.

However, according to data from market research firm Kpler, India's imports of Russian crude oil in October were 1.59 million barrels/day (mbd), showing almost no change compared to September. Kpler said, "So far, 1.73 million barrels of October's Russian export volume were delivered to India, and the remaining 3.02 million barrels (daily 1,000 barrels) have not yet had a final destination determined."

President Trump said Gor's priorities would include promoting investment in major U.S. industries, increasing U.S. energy exports, and expanding security cooperation.

President Trump said, "I expect Sergio to strengthen the strategic partnership with India, one of the most important relationships."

Gor, who was nominated by the Senate on October 7 as ambassador to India, arrived in New Delhi and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, "We also discussed the importance of minerals that are important to both countries."

Alexandra Herrmann of Oxford Economics said, "Gor demonstrates the U.S. effort to bypass diplomatic bureaucracy and communicate more directly with New Delhi."

Experts say that high tariffs on India, increases in H-1B visa fees, and allegations that President Trump mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan are among the factors that have recently strained relations between India and the United States.

Raghuram Rajan, former governor of India's central bank, noted at a November event hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, "The U.S. cannot talk about military friendship with a country that is charged higher tariffs than China."

Immediately after the U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports in August, Prime Minister Modi attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin together with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

India's advances into Russia continue. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) under the Ministry of Commerce of India said this week that a delegation of 20 Indian companies participated in this year's Moscow International Tool Fair.

However, experts said Russia still remains a limited partner compared to the United States.

According to the India Brand Asset Foundation (IBF), India exported $4.88 billion to Russia and imported $63.84 billion in the fiscal year 2025. Herrmann of Oxford Economics said the United States accounted for 18% of India's exports, while Russia accounted for only 1%.

Kim Jeong-ah, guest reporter kja@hankyung.com