President Trump Signals Progress On India-US Trade Deal; Praises PM Modi

US President Donald Trump has suggested that India and the United States are making progress towards a trade agreement. He made the remarks during a White House event centred on coal and energy policy, indicating that discussions between the two nations are moving in a positive direction despite differences over tariffs.

While responding to questions about reports that a trade deal could be finalised soon following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India, Trump expressed confidence in the ongoing negotiations.

“We’ll get to a deal because, I like you know, I like your Prime Minister a lot. He’s a good friend of mine, gets along great, and we’re going to make a deal. We get we have a very good relationship,” Trump noted.

During the interaction, Trump once again raised concerns about India’s tariff policies, stating that American companies had faced disadvantages in the Indian market over the years.

Trump pointed to Harley-Davidson motorcycles as an example of the challenges faced by US manufacturers seeking access to the Indian market.

“As an example, in the past, they wouldn’t let Harley Davidson sell its motor; they would charge a 200 per cent tariff,” Trump said.

The US President also compared earlier trade arrangements with the policies pursued during his administration.

“They charged tremendous amounts of tariffs to us, and we didn’t charge them anything,” he added.

Efforts to Bridge Trade Differences

The comments come at a time when officials in Washington and New Delhi are reportedly working to bridge remaining differences on a trade package aimed at improving market access and addressing tariff-related issues.

Economic cooperation continues to play a major role in the wider India-US partnership, which also includes collaboration in defence, technology, energy, and critical supply chains.

Trump’s remarks further underscored the cordial relationship he has frequently highlighted with PM Modi, built through several high-profile engagements during his previous term in office.

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