Trump says trade talks with India continuing, will speak with PM Modi in coming weeks

United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was looking forward to speaking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about trade in the coming weeks.

Hours later, Modi expressed confidence that the trade negotiations would “pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential” of the partnership between the two countries.

The two leaders made the statements in the backdrop of strained ties between New Delhi and Washington, mainly because of Trump having imposed so-called reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods and punitive levies for purchasing Russian oil amid the Ukraine war.

Negotiators from both countries had completed a fifth round of trade talks in Washington in July. The next round, scheduled for August 25, was abruptly cancelled and no fresh dates were announced.

On Tuesday, Trump said on social media that India and the US were continuing negotiations to address the trade barriers between the two countries.

“I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our great countries!” Trump added.

In response, Modi on Wednesday described India and the US as close friends and natural partners. Teams from both sides were working to conclude the trade discussions at the earliest, he said.

Modi said that he was looking forward to speaking with Trump, adding that they will “work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people”.

The social media posts came four days after Modi and Trump exchanged another set of positive comments.

Responding to comments made by Trump on Friday that New Delhi and Washington “have a special relationship”, Modi said a day later that he appreciates the US president’s “positive assessment” of the bilateral ties.

Trump had told reporters at the White House that “there is nothing to worry about” the US’ ties with India because the two countries have a “special relationship”.

When asked by a reporter about his social media post on Friday that the US had “lost India” to China, Trump said: “I don’t think we have”.

Trump urges EU to impose 100% tariffs on India, China: ‘Financial Times’

Trump has asked the European Union to impose tariff rates up to 100% on goods imported from India and China for their continued purchase of Russian oil, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. The US president has urged the bloc to enforce the levies as a way to pressure Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Washington also said that it was prepared to “mirror” the tariffs imposed by the European nations on India and China, the report added, quoting three unidentified officials familiar with the matter.

The members of the European Union have not yet joined the US in imposing Trump’s punitive levies.

Trump has repeatedly alleged that India’s imports were fuelling Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In August, the Trump administration doubled the tariffs on goods imported from India to 50% for purchasing Russian oil. A 25% so-called reciprocal tariff had already taken effect.

At the time, New Delhi said that it was “extremely unfortunate” that the US had chosen to impose additional tariffs on India “for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest”.

Indian ‘keyboard minions’ trying to bury facts: Trump adviser

Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro claimed that India’s “keyboard minions” were hijacking social media platform X’s Community Notes feature to “bury the facts”.

The feature allows eligible X users to add context or fact-check potentially misleading posts. The notes challenging claims made by Navarro about India have been added to several of his posts in recent days.

“They’re furious about losing unfettered access to US markets – even as India, the Maharaja of Tariffs, keeps some of the world’s highest trade barriers,” Navarro claimed on the platform on Wednesday.

The White House official added that while the Washington “doesn’t need unfair trade” with New Delhi, India “desperately needs access to US markets and schools and intends to continue taking [American] jobs”.