India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, met with Representative Gregory Meeks, the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Wednesday to discuss bilateral ties amid growing trade tensions under President Donald Trump.

In a post on X, the House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats quoted Meeks as stressing Congress’ bipartisan support for the US-India strategic partnership, which he said had “deepened over the past 25 years, including through the Quad.” Meeks also warned against Trump’s “arbitrary tariffs that threaten this vital relationship,” while reaffirming his own “commitment to deeper ties.”

Ambassador Kwatra, in his own post, said he briefed Meeks on “recent developments in the bilateral relationship” and exchanged views on trade, energy, the Indo-Pacific, and broader issues of mutual interest.

The meeting is the latest in a series of Kwatra’s engagements with lawmakers across both parties. Earlier on Wednesday, he also spoke with Republican Representative Kat Cammack of Florida, focusing on strengthening ties based on “common values.”

The diplomatic outreach comes as New Delhi faces heightened US trade barriers. On August 27, Trump doubled tariffs on Indian imports from 25 to 50 per cent, citing India’s continued purchases of discounted Russian oil despite the Ukraine conflict. The US president has repeatedly described the India-US trade relationship as a “disaster,” accusing New Delhi of imposing high tariffs on American exports.

Indian officials have pushed back strongly, calling the measures “unfair and unjustified.” Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee have also voiced concerns, with Meeks earlier this month describing Trump’s tariff moves as “tantrums” that risk undoing decades of progress in building a stronger partnership.