Citing his close relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he referred to as a “good friend,” United States President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Washington and New Delhi will reach a trade deal. “I like your Prime Minister a lot. He is a good friend of mine, and we get along well. We have a good relationship,” he stated while speaking to the media at White House regarding the trade accord.
He alleged, “For years, India took advantage of the United States. They charged us tremendous tariffs and paid nothing. Now it is the exact reverse, and we are making a lot of money with India,” and then added, “But we will get to a deal.”
#WATCH | President Donald Trump says, "For years, India took advantage of the United States… They charged us tremendous tariffs and paid nothing… Now it is the exact reverse and we are making a lot of money with India. But we will get to a deal because I like your Prime… pic.twitter.com/IR2x2MqUV5
— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2026
The development transpired after his government suggested imposing an extra 12.5% duty on goods from 60 countries, including India.
On the other hand, New Delhi witnessed four days of trade negotiations from 1st to 4th June. It was attended by representatives from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, under the direction of the agency’s chief negotiator and their Indian counterparts to explore multiple issues such as trade in goods, customs procedures, non-tariff barriers and collaboration on economic security. The conversations were deemed fruitful by both parties. Meanwhile, talks on a more comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) are underway.
In recent weeks, the momentum for an agreement has increased. Sergio Gor, the US ambassador to India, stated that only a few points remained unresolved and that the negotiations were nearing completion. Piyush Goyal, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, has likewise conveyed that the majority of issues have been addressed, with negotiations currently concentrating on completing the rest of the specifics prior to the announcement of the accord’s first phase.
