(Image source from: x.com/WhiteHouse)
US President Donald Trump portrayed an optimistic outlook regarding the trade negotiations involving tariffs between Washington and India, complimenting Prime Minister Narendra Modi by stating he is a "very smart man." Trump noted, "Prime Minister Modi was here not long ago. We have always maintained a strong friendship. India stands out as one of the nations with the highest tariffs globally, and it's quite harsh. He (Modi) is indeed a very intelligent individual and a good friend of mine, and we engaged in productive discussions. I believe our relationship with India will turn out very positively." This declaration arrived shortly after Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all vehicles imported into the United States. The new tariffs, scheduled to begin on April 2, are expected to affect almost half of the vehicles available in the US market, which includes American-made cars produced abroad.
Previously, in February, Trump had also emphasized India's steep tariffs when he mentioned the upcoming implementation of reciprocal tariffs. "We will be imposing reciprocal tariffs soon; they charge us, and we will charge them in return. Whatever fees a nation or company, like India or China, imposes, we aim for fairness, hence the idea of reciprocity," he remarked.
During Modi's visit to Washington DC in February, the two leaders engaged in bilateral talks. This meeting occurred just a month after Trump took his oath for a second term as President. At this summit, both countries committed to enhancing their trade partnership in a manner that promotes fairness, national security, and job creation. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi established an ambitious new trade goal known as "Mission 500," which aspires to more than double the total trade of goods and services between the two nations to reach $500 billion by the year 2030.
