Washington: United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the Trump administration may consider easing tariffs on Indian goods after talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, raising hopes of progress in strained trade relations.

Rubio described the discussions as constructive and said Washington is looking for ways to resolve the tariff dispute while also calling on European nations to take stronger action on sanctions against Russia. He criticized Europe’s continued imports of Russian oil, calling them inconsistent with the sanctions regime.

India has faced a combined 50 percent tariff on certain exports after it maintained energy trade with Russia.

The additional duties have contributed to a 22 percent fall in Indian exports to the United States between May

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