Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal with U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor during a meeting on Monday, January 19, 2026. Photo credit: PiyushGoyal/X
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday (January 19, 2026) met the U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, and American Senator Steve Daines and discussed bilateral issues.
The meeting is important as India and the U.S. are engaged in negotiating a bilateral trade agreement amidst a steep 50% import duty imposed by the Donald Trump administration on Indian goods since August.
“Delighted to again meet my good friends US Senator @SteveDaines and the US Ambassador to India @SergioGor. Had a productive exchange of views on our bilateral relationship,” Mr. Goyal said in a social media post.
Mr. Gor, known to be a key member of U.S. President Donald Trump’s inner circle, took over as the Ambassador recently.
In his arrival speech on January 12, he asserted that both sides are actively engaged to firm up a trade deal.
The bilateral ties are strained after Mr. Trump imposed a 50% tariff on India, including a 25% additional import duty for India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.
Republican Senators Steve Daines of Montana and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota have urged President Trump to push for favourable provisions for pulse crops in any future trade deal with India, saying American producers face a “significant competitive disadvantage” due to what they described as “unfair” tariffs imposed by New Delhi.
In a letter dated Jan 16 addressed to Mr. Trump, the two lawmakers said their states are the top two producers of pulse crops, including peas, while India is the world’s largest consumer, accounting for about 27% of global consumption.
Published – January 19, 2026 07:58 pm IST
