Trump Signals Restart of Trade Talks with India, Emphasizes Strong Ties

Resumption of Trade Negotiations

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States and India are set to resume discussions aimed at resolving 'trade barriers' between the two nations. In a message shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump expressed his enthusiasm, stating, '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!'

Context of the Announcement

This announcement follows the recent imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian imports by the US, which also includes an additional 25% penalty on Russian oil purchases. Earlier this week, during a statement at the White House, Trump referred to the relationship between India and the US as a 'very special relationship' and reassured that he and PM Modi would remain friends, indicating that there is 'nothing to worry about.'

Concerns Over Current Actions

Despite his positive remarks, Trump did express some dissatisfaction with PM Modi's current actions. When questioned about resetting relations with India, he affirmed, 'I always will. I’ll always be friends with (PM) Modi. He’s a great Prime Minister. I’ll always be friends, but I just don’t like what he is doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a very special relationship. There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion.'

Response from Modi

In response to Trump's comments on Truth Social, where he mentioned concerns about losing 'India and Russia to China,' Trump stated he does not believe that has occurred. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also responded positively to Trump's reaffirmation of the India-US relationship, expressing that he 'deeply appreciates and fully reciprocates' the sentiments shared by the US President regarding their bilateral ties.