WASHINGTON, June 5: US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that India and the United States will reach a bilateral trade agreement, highlighting his strong personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said he expected the two countries to successfully conclude ongoing negotiations and described Modi as a good friend.
His remarks came as India and the US continue discussions on an interim trade pact aimed at expanding economic cooperation and strengthening commercial ties. Trump said he believed both nations were working toward a mutually beneficial arrangement that would improve trade and investment opportunities.
The US president also repeated his long-standing criticism of India’s tariff policies, arguing that American companies have faced significant obstacles in accessing the Indian market. He claimed that India imposes high import duties on a range of products, while the United States maintains a comparatively open market for Indian exports.
As an example, Trump cited Harley-Davidson, saying the company had struggled to sell motorcycles in India because of steep import duties. According to him, those tariffs eventually encouraged the manufacturer to establish production facilities in India. He contrasted this with the US market, which he said does not place similar restrictions on Indian motorcycle brands.
The comments followed four days of trade negotiations between a US delegation and Indian officials. The talks concluded on Thursday, with both sides describing the discussions as constructive and productive. India’s Commerce Ministry said the negotiations were conducted in a spirit of cooperation and pragmatism and reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to finalising a mutually beneficial agreement.
Trade talks have undergone several adjustments this year due to legal and policy developments in the United States. Although a framework for an interim trade pact was outlined earlier following discussions between Trump and Modi, subsequent changes in US tariff policies prompted both sides to revisit parts of the proposal. Negotiations are continuing to address outstanding issues, reduce trade barriers and deepen economic engagement between the world’s largest and fifth-largest economies. (PTI)
