WASHINGTON — On Thursday, President Donald Trump is holding a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has expressed strong admiration for the U.S. leader while hoping to sidestep tariffs that the Trump administration recently instituted against several nations.
Modi, known for his nationalist approach, has emphasized his close ties with Trump during his previous term and has celebrated Trump’s return to the presidency. The Indian Prime Minister is eager to strengthen relations with the United States and Western allies, a task made more challenging due to recent tensions stemming from Modi’s reluctance to criticize Russia regarding its actions in Ukraine.
This meeting follows a significant election in India’s federal territory where Modi’s party achieved a crucial victory last weekend. Before his departure for Washington, Modi articulated that the visit would be an opportunity to “deepening our partnership” in vital sectors such as technology, trade, defense, and energy.
However, the atmosphere during the White House visit may not be entirely positive.
Trump has already enacted tariffs on China and has hinted at imposing further tariffs on the European Union, alongside threatening similar measures against Canada and Mexico. He has also moved to broaden tariffs on steel and aluminum that he initiated in his previous term.
Trump has often referred to India as a “tariff king.” In a bid to ease tensions, New Delhi has expressed a willingness to increase its imports of American oil and has reduced its tariffs on certain U.S. products, including a decrease on Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 50% to 40%.
Additionally, in 2023, India lifted retaliatory tariffs on a variety of U.S. imports, including almonds, apples, chickpeas, lentils, and walnuts.
Another important development involves a deal that allows General Electric, based in the U.S., to collaborate with Hindustan Aeronautics in India to manufacture jet engines for the country’s aircraft. The U.S. has also sold armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to India.
Nevertheless, Trump has expressed concerns about U.S. trade deficits globally, pledging to take action to reduce them. He made similar statements during his meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba the previous week.
Currently, the U.S. ranks as India’s largest trading partner, yet there exists a trade deficit of $50 billion favoring India. In 2023, the total trade in goods and services between the two nations reached roughly $190.1 billion, with India’s External Affairs Ministry reporting U.S. exports to India at nearly $70 billion against imports totaling $120 billion.
Another key issue on the agenda is immigration. Modi can highlight India’s recent acceptance of 104 migrants returned via a U.S. military flight; this marks the first such event as part of the Trump administration’s immigration policies and its stance on the U.S.-Mexico border.
For the Trump administration, India’s role is pivotal in the strategy to contain China in the Indo-Pacific region. Modi’s government is set to host an upcoming summit for the Quad nations, which include the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia, later this year.
