India is working to keep trade discussions with the United States on track even after Washington doubled import tariffs on Indian goods in response to New Delhi’s ongoing purchase of Russian oil.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced an additional 25% duty on Indian exports, raising the total tariff to 50%, one of the highest rates imposed on any American trading partner. Officials say the move could hit about 55% of India’s merchandise exports to the U.S., affecting billions of dollars in trade.

Despite the setback, Indian lawmakers say relations with Washington are “multi-dimensional” and should not be judged only by trade disputes. The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that the planned sixth round of trade talks will still take place in New Delhi on August 25, with a U.S. trade delegation set to attend.

Junior Finance Minister Pankaj Chaudhary said the government is already engaging with industry stakeholders to gauge the impact and discuss possible measures. In the last fiscal year, goods trade between the two countries totaled around $87 billion, making the U.S. one of India’s most important trade partners.

The same parliamentary panel meeting also addressed regional security concerns, rejecting reported remarks by Pakistan’s army chief about nuclear threats. Lawmakers across party lines stressed that “nuclear blackmail” would not influence India’s position, while the External Affairs Ministry condemned the comments.

For now, India faces the challenge of defending its trade interests in the U.S. while maintaining its energy ties with Russia, a balancing act that will be tested in the upcoming trade negotiations.