New Delhi : The United States is set to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports on Wednesday, taking the total tariff to 50 per cent. The move, announced earlier this month by US President Donald Trump, targets India’s purchase of Russian oil—a step India has repeatedly described as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”

Amid these tensions, senior officials from India and the United States held virtual consultations on Monday to “advance bilateral initiatives” and discuss trade, the State Department said.

The US readout of the U.S.-India 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue contrasted with earlier harsh statements from Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other US trade officials. India’s External Affairs Ministry issued a statement echoing the US readout.

Officials expressed their “eagerness to continue enhancing the breadth and depth of the bilateral relationship in a manner that benefits the people of America and India,” the statements said.

Discussions cover trade, defence, and security

The officials "advanced bilateral initiatives, discussed regional security developments, and exchanged perspectives on a number of shared strategic priorities," according to the statements. Topics included trade and investment, energy security, civil-nuclear cooperation, critical minerals exploration, counternarcotics, and counterterrorism cooperation.

High-level co-chairs

External Affairs Additional Secretary Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur and Defence Joint Secretary Vishwesh Negi co-chaired the meeting with Bethany Morrison, senior official of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and Jedidiah P Royal, acting assistant defence secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.

The intersessional dialogue is held between 2+2 ministerial meetings to assess ties and plan for the next high-level session. The last 2+2 Ministerial took place in November in New Delhi with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Defence and Quad commitments reaffirmed

The two countries reiterated their commitment to the Quad – India, the US, Australia, and Japan – and to strengthening defence cooperation. The statements said, “Both sides looked forward to increasing defence cooperation, including signing a new ten-year Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, as well as advancing defence industrial, science, and technology cooperation; operational coordination; regional cooperation; and information-sharing."

They “agreed to build upon the progress made in these areas under the auspices of the U.S.-India COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century and beyond,” the statements added.

Trump’s claims and India’s stance

Trump has repeatedly claimed he mediated an end to the Operation Sindoor conflict using trade as leverage – a claim India refutes. He has also criticised the Indian economy.