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India has signed Mercury Public Affairs to a $75K monthly retainer contract as Donald Trump’s threat to double the 25 percent tariff on it for the purchase of Russian oil looms
Mercury is to provide strategic communications services including federal lobbying, media relations, digital audit, social media strategy and advertising.
The 50 percent tariff, which is supposed to go into effect Aug. 27, would cover about $50B in Indian exports to the US.
Trump’s tariff policy has brought together India and its rival China.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi met with India prime minister Narendra Modi on Aug 19 in New Delhi.
He said the countries should view each other as partners rather than adversaries or threats, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry. They should coexist against a backdrop of “unilateral bullying,” Wang added.
Mercury partners David Vitter (former Louisiana Republican Senator), and Bryan Lanza (communications director for the 2020 Trump transition team) represent India.
The six-member team includes Kevin Thomas (Mercury’s Long Island co-chair and the first Indian-American elected to the New York State Senate.)
Mercury’s three-month contact with India went into effect on Aug. 15. Omniconm owns Mercury.
WPP's Ogilvy Group unit handles PR for Saudi Arabia’s CEER Motors and its flagship Exobot electric sedan and SUV vehicles.
Squire Patton Boggs has signed on to provide lobbying services to embattled Yemen.
GlobalPoint International has signed on to position Sudan’s Democratic Civilian Forces group as the best option to restore stability and prosperity in the war-torn country.
A Qorvis unit is providing strategic communications and related services to the embattled Republic of Yemen under a $550K five-month pact.
Donald Trump political ally Roger Stone has signed on to provide public affairs counsel to the Government of Haiti.
