Washington: US President Donald Trump announced plans to firm up “some wonderful trade deals” for India and the US as he hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wide-ranging talks focussing on charting a new pathway for broadening the bilateral partnership, including in the areas of defence, energy, and critical technology.
At his Oval Office on Thursday, Trump welcomed Modi with a long handshake and a warm hug while describing the prime minister as a “great friend” for a long time.
The two leaders made brief statements to the media and answered several questions before settling down for the crucial talks, hours after the American President announced a new reciprocal tariff policy for all the trading partners of the US.
As the two leaders met just hours after Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, which also impact India, one of the US’s largest trading partners, the US President said that his country was going to make “wonderful trade deals” for India as he held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.
“We agreed to work together to help build one of the greatest trade routes in all of history. It will run from India to Israel to Italy and onward to the US, connecting our partners, roads, railways and undersea cables. It is a big development, the US President announced.
The US President announced that both countries have reached a significant agreement on energy, ensuring that the US becomes a leading supplier of oil and natural gas to India. “Hopefully, the top supplier,” he said. “In a groundbreaking development for the US nuclear industry, India is also reforming its laws to facilitate the entry of US nuclear technology, which stands at the highest level in the Indian market…”
“They’re going to be purchasing a lot of our oil and gas. We’re going to make some wonderful trade deals for India and for the US,” Trump said while meeting PM Modi in the Oval Office.
According to people familiar with the development, PM Modi’s team considered potential commitments to Trump, including increased purchases of liquefied natural gas, combat vehicles, and jet engines, news agency Reuters reported.
“One thing I deeply appreciate and have learned from President Trump is that he keeps the national interest supreme. Like him, I also place India’s national interest above everything else,” PM Modi said during the bilateral talks at the White House.
Earlier, the Indian side said it was also exploring potential deals on US agricultural exports to India and investment in nuclear energy, along with tariff reductions in several sectors, including electronics, medical and surgical equipment, and chemicals.
