Davos: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he has great respect for his “friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they are going to have a good trade deal, according to a media report.
“I have great respect for your Prime Minister. He’s a fantastic man and a friend of mine. We are going to have a good deal,” Moneycontrol quoted Trump as saying.
The report said the brief statement was made exclusively to it in a reply to a question on the India-US trade agreement.
Asked about the progress of the India–US trade negotiations, Trump expressed confidence that the talks would deliver a favourable outcome for both sides.
“I have great respect for your Prime Minister. He’s a fantastic man and a friend of mine, and we are going to have a good deal,” Trump said.
The comments come as India and the United States remain locked in tough negotiations over tariffs, with economic friction between the two sides intensifying in recent months.
Trade discussions have also been shaped by geopolitical considerations, adding complexity to the negotiations.
The proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement, formally outlined in February following directives from leaders of both countries, aims to more than double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 from about USD 191 billion currently.
Talks on the BTA were first announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington in February 2025.
Trump recently highlighted his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the Indian PM was “not happy” with him after Washington raised tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil.
Speaking at the House Republicans’ Retreat at the Kennedy Center on January 6, Trump said, “I have a very good relationship with PM Modi, but he is not happy with me as India is paying high tariffs. But now they have reduced it very substantially, buying oil from Russia.”
“They wanted to make me happy, basically. Modi is a very good man; he is a good guy,” Trump added, suggesting India adjusted its oil purchases in response to US pressure.
Trump’s remarks came a day after he warned that further tariffs could be imposed if India did not address US concerns over Russian oil imports. In August 2025, Washington imposed 25 percent levy on Indian goods, taking total tariffs to 50 percent as part of efforts to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
Speaking at the House Republicans’ Retreat at the Kennedy Center on January 6, Trumpsaid, “I have a very good relationship with PM Modi, but he is not happy with me as India is paying high tariffs. But now they have reduced it very substantially, buying oil from Russia.”
“They wanted to make me happy, basically. Modi is a very good man; he is a good guy,” Trump added, suggesting India adjusted its oil purchases in response to US pressure.
