The US President called PM Narendra Modi a 'good friend' and spoke of strong bilateral ties between the two nations amid ongoing trade negotiations.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed confidence that Washington and New Delhi would soon conclude a trade agreement. He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “good friend" with whom he shares a strong relationship.
“We will get to a deal because I like your Prime Minister a lot; he is a good friend of mine, and we get along well. We have a good relationship," Trump told reporters at White House.
The US President also reiterated his longstanding criticism of India’s tariff regime, arguing that New Delhi had for years imposed high duties on American goods while enjoying favorable access to the US market.
However, he claimed that the trade dynamic had shifted in recent years, with the United States now benefiting more from its economic ties with India. “Now it is the exact reverse and we are making a lot of money with India," he said.
His remarks come amid ongoing negotiations between Washington and New Delhi aimed at finalizing a bilateral trade deal, which both sides have said could significantly expand economic cooperation and market access.
A delegation from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) met with Indian officials from June 1 to June 4 to advance discussions on the proposed agreement. Both sides described the negotiations as constructive and said efforts were underway to conclude a mutually beneficial trade arrangement.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the CITI India 2026 Conference in Mumbai recently, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the proposed India-US trade agreement is “99 per cent there”, with only a few remaining issues left to be resolved.
“Both the United States and India are like-minded partners and are committed to finalizing the deal. We believe it will be a win-win outcome for both countries, and we are very excited about its prospects,” he said.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also recently said that most issues had already been settled. According to him, discussions are now focused on final details before the first tranche of the agreement can be announced.
