We hosted an insightful discussion on U.S.-India trade relations with former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for South and Central Asian Affairs Mark Linscott, Consul General of India in Houston D. C. Manjunath, and Gabriel Collins, Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at Rice University’s Baker Institute and head of the Center for Energy Studies’ program on energy and geopolitics in Eurasia.
Linscott provided an in-depth look at the history of U.S-India trade, analyzed the impact of Trump-era policies, and explored how these precedents could shape the bilateral relationship in 2025 and beyond. The conversation addressed key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, logistics, manufacturing, technology, and more. This event examined the evolving dynamics of one of the world’s most important trade partnerships and its implications for the global economy.
This event was co-sponsored by the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. It was free and open to the public. Light refreshments were provided.
Follow @CES_Baker_Inst on X to join the conversation online with #BakerLive.
Registration
Registration has closed.
Baker Institute events are powered by the generous contributions of our supporters. Learn how you can make a donation or become a member of the Baker Roundtable.
Agenda
3:00 pm CDT — Armchair Discussion
4:00 pm CDT — Audience Q&A
Participants
Featured Speakers
Mark Linscott
As senior advisor with the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), Mark Linscott is leading efforts to advance U.S.-India trade relations. He also serves as a senior advisor at The Asia Group and a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center.
Previously, serving as the assistant USTR for South and Central Asian affairs from 2016 to 2018, Mark Linscott developed trade policy with South and Central Asian countries, the bilateral Trade Policy Forum with India, and oversaw Trade and Investment Framework Agreements with nations including Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
From 2012 to 2016, as the assistant USTR for World Trade Organization (WTO) and multilateral affairs, Mark Linscott represented the U.S. in the WTO and coordinated negotiations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Earlier roles included assistant USTR for environment and natural resources and representing the U.S. at the WTO Mission in Geneva. Linscott holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from Georgetown University. He lives in Washington DC, with his wife, Karen, where he enjoys tinkering on his café racer motorcycles and paddling on the Potomac.
D. C. Manjunath
Manjunath joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2004 and assumed charge as Consul General of India in Houston in July 2023. Prior to his role, he served as joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, heading the Global Estate Management Division. His diplomatic assignments have included postings in Indian missions abroad in Moscow, Astana, Colombo, and at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in New York, where he handled political, commercial, development cooperation, and multilateral work. In the Ministry of External Affairs, he has served as an officer on special duty to the External Affairs Minister, as director of UN Political and Americas divisions, and as joint secretary leading the Establishment Division and Rapid Response Cell.
A UN disarmament fellow in 2012, Manjunath has keen interests in peacekeeping and Security Council matters, as well as expertise in project management for medium to large scale construction projects. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering and is a distinguished alumni awardee from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai. Before joining foreign service, he briefly worked at TVS Motor Co. Ltd. in Hosur and is also a non-matric alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. He is married to Arpana Manjunath, an educator, and they have two sons. He speaks Russian in addition to English, Hindi, Tamil, and Kannada.
Moderator
Gabriel Collins
Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs
