 |
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.
Danny O’Brien, who was Fox Corp. executive VP and head of government relations, has signed on to represent the Embassy of Qatar.
The London office of Burson Group has retained Finn Partners’ New York office to strengthen the visibility of Ras Al Khaimah, which is one of the United Arab Emirates.
Hogan Lovells has expanded its relationship with Ukraine to reflect the implementation of the 50/50 US-Ukrainian partnership to develop its critical minerals.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has agreed to provide government relations and PA services to the Kingdom of Morocco.
The Washington Media Group is providing strategic communications support for Qatar's Education City, home of satellite facilities of Weill Cornell Medicine, Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown and others.
