New Delhi: India and the US are "close friends and natural partners", and "our teams are working to conclude the trade discussions at the earliest", said
Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he reacted to US President Donald Trump's post hinting that he may speak to the Indian leader "in the coming weeks". The development has signalled optimism that the two leaders could resolve a trade dispute that has deepened in recent months. "I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump. We will work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people," PM Modi wrote on X.
Signaling that New Delhi and Washington are back on track after a downturn in ties, Trump, in a post on Truth Social, announced that India and the US are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. "I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks. I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!"
The President's comments come even as he has pressed European leaders to join him in imposing sweeping tariffs on India and China in an effort to punish both nations for their purchase of Russian oil, according to a The Financial Times report.
During a meeting with European Union officials earlier Tuesday, Trump said Washington was prepared to “mirror” any levies imposed by Europe on India and China, one of the people said. He cast the proposal as part of a broader strategy to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to enter ceasefire talks with Ukraine.
The effort risks complicating talks with India, which has bristled at recent tariff hikes from Washington. Last month, the United States doubled duties on many Indian goods to 50 per cent, citing the country’s continued purchases of Russian oil. India had already been hit with a 25 per cent rate.
New Delhi has defended its decision to buy Russian crude, calling the shipments essential to keeping costs down for the world’s third-largest oil consumer. The discounted barrels have made India the top buyer of Russian seaborne crude since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Trump has also accused India of maintaining steep levies on American goods and other non-tariff barriers. At the same time, he has suggested India offered to reduce its tariffs on US exports to zero, though he said that offer may have come “too late” in the negotiations.
Tensions between the two nations flared at times, particularly after PM Modi attended a summit in China alongside Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Yet, Trump has labelled the disagreements as temporary. “India and the United States have a special relationship. There’s nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion,” he said last week, adding that he would always remain friends with Modi even if he did not “like what he’s doing at this particular moment.”
