India’s trade negotiations with the United States are making steady progress and are expected to yield favorable results, according to Trade Secretary Sunil Barthwal. His optimistic remarks come just weeks before US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs take effect on April 2.

Speaking at a press briefing in New Delhi on Monday, Barthwal said there is “forward movement” in the talks, and that India anticipates a “positive outcome.” His comments follow a recent visit by India’s commerce minister to the US, where discussions focused on a bilateral trade agreement. While Trump has signaled that India could be among the nations affected by his upcoming tariffs, New Delhi remains engaged in proactive discussions to ensure a balanced trade arrangement.

China’s decision to halt liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from the United States for 40 days marks the longest gap in nearly two years, as tariffs imposed in response to U.S. trade policies force traders to divert shipments elsewhere. The last time such an extended pause occurred was in June 2023. Currently, there are no U.S. LNG shipments en route to China.

The trade war initiated by the Trump administration is increasingly pushing the world’s largest LNG seller and buyer apart. In retaliation for sweeping U.S. tariffs on Chinese exports, Beijing implemented a 15% duty on U.S. LNG shipments beginning February 10. This has prompted Chinese gas buyers with long-term contracts at U.S. facilities to redirect shipments to Europe instead.

Israel has awarded natural gas exploration licenses to BP, Azerbaijan’s state-owned Socar, and the local firm NewMed Energy as part of its strategy to boost domestic gas reserves and expand exports. The three companies, which jointly bid for two offshore blocks in 2023 during Israel’s fourth licensing round, will each hold about a third of the rights in the so-called Cluster I exploration area. Socar will act as the operator of the consortium, marking its first major entry into Israel’s energy sector, while BP will also participate in the country’s natural gas industry for the first time.

Cluster I spans approximately 1,700 square kilometers in the Mediterranean, situated north of Israel’s economic waters and near the giant Leviathan gas field, which is operated by Chevron. NewMed Energy is already the largest stakeholder in Leviathan. The consortium is expected to conduct seismic and geological surveys in the initial phase of exploration before proceeding to drilling based on the survey results.