US President Donald Trump’s nominee for the next ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, stated on Thursday that the Trump administration is keen for India, with its vast middle-class market surpassing that of the US, to purchase American crude oil and petroleum products, noting that ongoing trade negotiations are focused on achieving this goal.
Gor emphasised that India’s population of over 1.4 billion and its rapidly growing middle class present substantial opportunities for the United States.
"We fully intend in these trade talks that are ongoing right now to open the markets to crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas. You're talking about a population of 1.4 billion individuals there. Their middle class, by our definition, is larger than the entire United States of America. And so we have countless possibilities to expand into those markets, and we fully intend to do that," he said.
The senior US official’s remarks, made during a Senate committee hearing for the role of US ambassador to India, came as the Trump administration has been urging India to halt its oil trade with Russia, claiming it supports Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine—a demand India has firmly rejected.
He added, "India's population of over 1.4 billion and its rapidly growing middle class present immense opportunities for America. From artificial intelligence to pharmaceuticals to critical minerals, the potential for collaboration is vast. However, it is not easy. However, in the past, India's protectionist policies and regulatory barriers have prevented us from fully realising this partnership."
The ambassador-designate, a close confidant of Trump and director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, noted that Washington and New Delhi are “not that far apart” on tariffs, indicating that trade disputes could be resolved in the coming weeks. He added that despite recent tensions over tariffs and India’s Russian oil purchases, the US-India relationship remains “warm and strategically important”.
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Gor told senators, "We’re not that far apart on a deal on these tariffs. I do think it will get resolved in the next few weeks." He also said that the US and India share long-term strategic goals and a "much warmer relationship than they have with the Chinese."
The hearing suggested a subtle shift towards improving US-India relations, following weeks of diplomatic tensions.
In an unusual step, Secretary of State Marco Rubio introduced Gor to the Senate panel. "India is one of the top relationships the United States has in the world today in terms of the future of what the world’s going to look like," Rubio said.
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India-US relations recently faced strain after the Trump administration imposed a 25 pc tariff on Indian goods, coupled with an additional 25 pc punitive duty tied to India’s trade in Russian oil. India strongly rebuffed Washington’s stance, asserting that its oil purchases are driven solely by market dynamics and the interests of its citizens. In recent weeks, senior Trump aides have repeatedly targeted India with what New Delhi has called baseless claims.
However, Trump has since moderated his position, advocating for renewed negotiations and underscoring the US-India friendship. He noted that his administration was continuing talks to address trade barriers with India and planned to speak with Prime Minister Modi, hinting at a potential reset after weeks of diplomatic friction. PM Modi, in turn, welcomed the change, stating he fully reciprocated Trump’s position.
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