India has hired a powerful lobbying firm in Washington to help counter steep trade penalties from the United States, as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.

According to public filings, the Indian embassy signed a $75,000-per-month deal with Mercury Public Affairs, a firm with close connections to former US President Donald Trump. The team working on the account includes Bryan Lanza, who once served as communications director for Trump’s transition team.

The contract comes just days before the US is set to impose 50% tariffs on Indian exports. The White House has justified the move as punishment for India’s continued purchases of Russian oil, arguing the trade finances Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Indian officials, however, insist the oil imports are necessary to stabilize global markets and point out that Washington had previously tolerated them.

The looming tariffs could deliver a major blow to Indian exporters, particularly as the US is India’s largest trading partner. Relations between New Delhi and Washington have worsened in recent months, with Trump calling India’s economy “dead” and describing its trade barriers as “obnoxious.”

In a late effort to strengthen diplomatic channels, Trump nominated close aide Sergio Gor as ambassador to India over the weekend. The position has been vacant since his return to office, complicating bilateral engagement.

Despite the friction, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said both sides are still working on a trade deal. Meanwhile, Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has also expanded his lobbying network in Washington while contesting bribery allegations.

Mercury has a track record of representing foreign clients caught in US disputes, including Chinese companies and Denmark during Trump’s push to acquire Greenland. India’s move to hire the firm underlines the urgency with which New Delhi is seeking to protect its trade ties at a critical time.