A leaked audio recording is now at the center of growing uncertainty around the India-US trade negotiations. In the latest Axios report, Senator Ted Cruz is said to have named senior White House officials as the key roadblocks in the stalled India-US trade deal, describing a “battle” over the agreement during private donor calls. The report comes at a time when negotiations have gained urgency following fresh US tariffs tied to India-Russia oil trade, with total duties on India reportedly rising to 50&#37. The leak suggests deeper political resistance within the administration, even as both sides continue bilateral talks after months of negotiation. WATCH 

US President Donald Trump hinted at a major breakthrough in India–US trade talks during the swearing-in ceremony of Sergio Gor as the new US Ambassador to India. Trump confirmed that discussions are progressing toward a fair deal and suggested that tariffs on Indian imports could be reduced soon.