U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that the United States and India will soon reach a trade agreement, while praising Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “good friend.” His remarks come at a time when trade negotiations between the two countries are nearing their final stages.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said that economic ties between Washington and New Delhi are improving and claimed that the United States is now benefiting significantly from trade with India. He argued that the trade relationship has changed considerably compared to previous years and expressed optimism about reaching a mutually beneficial deal. Trump also highlighted his personal rapport with Modi, saying the two leaders share a strong relationship and work well together.
The comments come amid ongoing discussions between officials from both nations aimed at resolving the remaining issues in a proposed trade pact. Recent negotiations in New Delhi reportedly covered tariffs, customs procedures, trade facilitation measures, market access, and non-tariff barriers. Both sides have described the talks as constructive and have reaffirmed their commitment to concluding the agreement soon.
According to officials familiar with the negotiations, a large portion of the agreement has already been finalized, with only a few technical and tariff-related matters still under discussion. One of the key issues involves tariff relief and market access arrangements that would benefit businesses in both countries. Trade representatives from Washington and New Delhi have continued meeting in recent weeks in an effort to bridge the remaining gaps.
Trump’s latest remarks also underline the importance of the personal relationship between the two leaders. Over the years, he has repeatedly referred to Modi as a friend and has credited their rapport with helping advance bilateral cooperation. Analysts believe strong political ties at the highest level have contributed to progress on trade, technology, defense, and strategic cooperation between the two democracies.
With negotiations reportedly close to completion, both governments are hopeful that an agreement can be finalized in the coming weeks. A successful deal would mark another significant step in strengthening India-US economic relations and could boost trade, investment, and business opportunities for both countries.
