U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to speak with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before giving the final approval to the long-awaited India-U.S. trade agreement Trump’s approval is all that remains to officially announce the trade deal, which has been under negotiation for several months and is now in its final stage
According to sources familiar with the matter
Trump has made it a practice to personally speak with the head of the state before signing any major trade deal. In keeping with this approach, he wants to have a direct conversation with PM Modi to discuss about all the final details. Officials have informed the Indian government of this request, and both countries are now coordinating to schedule the call.
The trade agreement
It has already received support from the key officials in both the countries. On the U.S. side, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and the Trade Representative Jamieson Greer have endorsed about the deal. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has also given his approval from India
Speaking to the reporters aboard Air Force One
Trump have confirmed that the deal is not yet finalized. He praised India as a good friend but also pointed out that the country has historically imposed high tariffs on He warned that failure to sign the deal soon could lead the U.S. to impose tariffs of 20 to 25 percent on Indian goods under a new trade framework.
Trump highlighted
About his personal relationship with PM Modi, calling him “a friend.” He also mentioned that India and Pakistan had ended with a recent conflict at his request, showcasing his influence in the region. This statement have came shortly after PM Modi clarified in the Parliament that no global leader had asked India to stop its military operation against Pakistan.
The trade deal
It is expected to boost the economic ties between the two nations. In 2024, trade between India and the U.S have reached across $129.2 billion, with the U.S. exporting $41.8 billion worth of goods to India and importing $87.4 billion. This has resulted in a trade deficit of $45.7 billion for the U.S.
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