WASHINGTON — On Thursday, President Donald Trump welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House with a friendly embrace, referring to him as “a great friend of mine.” However, he also made it clear that India would not be exempt from the increased tariffs he has started to implement on trade partners globally.
Trump, who has previously criticized India as the “tariff king,” described the import duties from Modi’s administration as “very unfair and strong.” During a joint press conference alongside Modi, he stated, “Whatever India charges, we charge them,” emphasizing that the specifics of India’s rates were becoming less significant to the U.S.
As part of his discussions, Trump reiterated his commitment to eliminate the trade deficit between the U.S. and India, suggesting that boosting U.S. energy exports could be part of the solution. He indicated that he and Modi had begun talks to work on an extensive trade agreement that might be finalized later this year.
The current trade landscape reveals a $50 billion deficit in favor of India, with the tally for Indo-U.S. trade in goods and services nearing $190.1 billion for 2023. Statistics from India’s External Affairs Ministry indicate that U.S. exports to India are valued at around $70 billion, while imports from India amount to $120 billion.
Modi, for his part, continued to express admiration for Trump, stating his goal to “Make India Great Again,” cleverly mirroring Trump’s own “Make America Great Again” slogan.
During the meeting, Trump also indicated his support for the extradition of one of the individuals responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, likely referring to Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who was convicted in 2011 in the U.S. for conspiring against a Danish newspaper. Trump mentioned that “He’s going to be going back to India to face justice,” and elaborated that the extradition would happen immediately, hinting at more such actions to follow.
In addition to discussions about tariffs and trade, Trump announced plans to significantly boost military sales to India, which could pave the way for India to acquire the F-35 stealth fighter jets, a longstanding request from Indian officials.
Before Modi’s visit, Trump signed an order to raise tariffs to match those set by other countries on imports, impacting various American trading partners, including India. Modi had been seeking to navigate additional tariffs and foster better ties with the U.S. amid recent cooling relations due to India’s stance on Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
In response to the perception of neutrality during the conflict, Modi stated, “The world had this thinking that India somehow is a neutral country in this whole process,” while expressing appreciation for Trump’s dialogue with leaders from Russia and Ukraine. He further declared, “But this is not true. India has a side, and that side is of peace.”
Having already imposed tariffs on China, Trump proclaimed that additional tariffs on the European Union were forthcoming, while he also signaled potential actions against Canada and Mexico. His administration broadened tariffs initially imposed on steel and aluminum during his first term.
The White House assures that these newly signed tariffs aim to level the competitive arena for U.S. manufacturers against foreign entities. However, these fees are likely to impact American consumers and businesses, either through direct payments or through increased costs.
Ahead of Modi’s arrival, India indicated a readiness to increase purchases of American oil and reduce tariffs on certain goods, including a reduction of duties on some Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 50% to 40%. In 2023, India also retracted retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products, such as almonds, apples, chickpeas, lentils, and walnuts.
Despite ongoing tariff disputes, Trump has utilized the early days of his second term to advocate for curbing trade deficits globally, a topic he addressed during a recent meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Modi is the fourth international leader welcomed by Trump since he took office, following visits from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japan’s Ishiba, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
Prior to his meeting with Trump, Modi consulted with national security adviser Mike Waltz and also engaged with Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and a prominent figure within the Trump administration. Trump was questioned on whether Musk interacted with Modi as an executive or as a business entrepreneur, given concerns regarding the implications of their encounter.
“India is a very hard place to do business because of the tariffs. They have the highest tariffs, just about in the world, and it’s a hard place to do business,” Trump remarked. “No, I would imagine he met possibly because, you know, he’s running a company.”
The discussions also encompassed immigration issues, with India agreeing to accept the return of 104 migrants repatriated on a U.S. military flight, marking the first such operation under Trump’s immigration policies.
Presently, there are more than 725,000 unauthorized immigrants from India residing in the U.S., positioning India as the third most represented nationality in this category after Mexico and El Salvador, according to studies.
Furthermore, there has been a notable increase in the number of Indian nationals attempting to cross through the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended over 14,000 Indians in the past year, accounting for 60% of all such arrests there, showcasing a dramatic rise over the past two years.
Trump has promised a “mass deportation” of individuals living unlawfully in the U.S., to which Modi responded by stating, “Any verified Indian who is in the U.S. illegally, we are fully prepared to take them back to India.”
