Modi, Trump Hold First Call Since Russia Sanctions Law — SkimNews
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- Modi and Trump held their first phone call since Congress passed the SRIA, with Modi calling it 'productive' and reviewing cooperation in trade, defence, energy, and critical technologies — but omitting any direct reference to the sanctions law itself.
- The SRIA (Sanctions Against Russia and Iran Act) mandates Trump to levy up to 100% tariffs on goods from India, China, and other countries that import Russian oil, a point Indian officials raised with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Undersecretary Allison Hooker, and a US Congressional delegation in Delhi.
- S. Jaishankar laid out four friction points at the Asia Society: tariff volatility, FTA complexity driven by a 30-fold per-capita income gap, US ties with Pakistan despite cross-border terrorism concerns, and US immigration policies fueling negative Indian public opinion.
- Jaishankar said there is now 'more or less' an understanding on the trade agreement, but new problems stem from US courts striking down Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs' and the USTR's Section 301 investigations.
- Modi is expected to travel to Florida for the G20 summit on December 14-15, with officials indicating whether he holds bilateral talks with Trump depends on FTA progress.
Why it matters: The 100% tariff threat under SRIA gives Washington immediate leverage in FTA talks, while Jaishankar's blunt inventory of grievances — Pakistan, immigration, and tariff unpredictability — signals New Delhi will not absorb sanctions pressure quietly. Whether Modi secures bilateral Trump time at the G20 now hinges on FTA traction over the next two months.
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