Trump Says Modi Is a Good Friend, Says U.S. and India Will Reach Trade Deal Soon

【New Delhi, India=Reporter Pragya Awasthi】U.S. President Donald Trump called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "good friend" and expressed confidence that "the United States and India will eventually reach a trade agreement."
According to local media on the 5th, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office at the White House on the 4th (local time), "I like the Indian prime minister very much. Modi is a good friend and we get along well. We will eventually make a deal."
Trump also pointed to the trade imbalance between the two countries, claiming that India has imposed high tariffs on the U.S. for a long time. He said, "India imposed enormous tariffs on our companies, while we imposed almost nothing," and criticized India's high tariff barriers by citing Harley-Davidson. He explained, "In the past, India would not let Harley-Davidson sell motorcycles. A 200% tariff blocked market access, and we eventually had to build a local factory."
He also stressed that the U.S. market had been open to Indian products. "Indian motorcycles were sold in the U.S. without any barriers," he said. "Now the situation is completely reversed, and we are making a lot of money from trade with India."
The two countries are currently negotiating a trade agreement. A U.S. delegation recently visited India and completed four days of talks. The two sides are continuing discussions aimed at reaching the first phase of a provisional bilateral trade deal. India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the talks took place in a "cooperative and practical atmosphere" and that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade and economic ties through a mutually beneficial agreement.
Earlier, after a phone call between Trump and Modi, the two countries issued a joint statement outlining the framework for a first-phase trade agreement. At the time, the U.S. was discussing a plan to cut tariffs on India from 50% to 18%. Additional tariffs linked to purchases of Russian crude oil were also under review. However, the negotiating environment changed after the Supreme Court of the United States blocked part of Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariff policy. The U.S. later announced a new tariff policy covering all countries. As a result, the two sides are continuing talks while revising the agreement.

praghya@fnnews.com Reporter Pragya Awasthi Reporter