India-US trade talks back on track? Trump says he will speak to ‘very good friend’ PM Modi

In what could be another signal of thaw in trade war between India and the United States, President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was looking forward to speaking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he called a “very good friend”.

 

Trump said both India and the US were continuing negotiations to address the trade barriers between the two countries.

 

"I am pleased to announce that India and the United States of America 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!,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

 

Trump’s fresh overtures came a week after he announced that India and the US had a “very special relationship” and affirmed that he and PM Modi would always be friends.

 

He, however, expressed displeasure over what Modi was doing, insinuating India’s continued purchase of cheap Russian oil.

 

Modi appreciated Trump’s sentiments, and said India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking comprehensive and global strategic partnership.

 

The relations between New Delhi and Washington nosedived last month after Trump slapped a 25 per cent punitive tariff, taking the total levy on Indian goods to a whopping 50 per cent. The US has been accusing India of funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine by purchasing discounted oil from Russia.

 

India termed the move “unjustifiable” and “unreasonable”.

 

The tariff imposition and the disagreement over the ceasefire after Operation Sindoor have led India-US relations to a new low, stalling the trade negotiations. Last month, a US trade delegation had cancelled its scheduled visit to New Delhi for the next round of talks.

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