India, US make 'progress' for a joint trade-oil deal

Chief negotiator returns from New York after fresh parleys

- ASIT RANJAN MISHRA & SHREYA NANDI

India and the US are negotiating a comprehensive resolution that addresses both the pending issues in their trade deal and Washington's concerns over New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil.

"We want to address it comprehensively rather than piece by piece. There has to be some sort of agreement at the higher levels to President Donald Trump's satisfaction that we have a way forward to ultimately reduce and eliminate India's Russian oil purchases. The oil issue is the thorniest. When that's resolved, the others won't be too tough to negotiate," said a US official who did not wish to be named.

An Indian delegation led by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York earlier this week. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is in the US to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, also held discussions with his counterpart Marco Rubio.