Tariff Talks Between India and US Will Work Out Well, Says Trump; Praises Modi as ‘Very Smart and Good Friend of Mine’
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and India, commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a ‘Smart man, good friend of mine’
“Prime Minister Modi was here just recently. We’ve always had a good relationship. India imposes some of the highest tariffs in the world, which is tough. But he (Modi) is very smart and a great friend of mine. Our discussions were productive, and I believe things will work out well between our two countries,” Trump said.
His remarks follow the announcement of a 25% tariff on imported vehicles entering the US, set to take effect on April 2. This decision will impact nearly half of the vehicles sold in the American market, including those manufactured overseas by US companies.
Trump has previously criticized India’s tariff policies, notably in February when he introduced reciprocal tariffs. “We will soon impose reciprocal tariffs. If countries like India or China charge us, we will charge them the same. It’s about fairness,” he said at the time.
PM Modi’s visit to Washington DC in February, which occurred shortly after Trump’s second-term inauguration, marked a key moment in strengthening bilateral ties. The two leaders agreed to enhance the trade relationship, focusing on promoting growth, ensuring fairness, and creating jobs.
During the visit, they also launched the ‘Mission 500’ initiative, setting a target to double the total two-way trade in goods and services to $500 billion by 2030.