Trump Says Trade Talks With India Continue

The U.S. president refers to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his friend, despite his recent comments suggesting that India was ‘lost’ to China.

President Donald Trump; Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Getty Images

The United States and India continue to negotiate trade talks, according to President Donald Trump, despite recent comments he made suggesting the South Asian country was “lost” to communist China.

“I am pleased to announce that India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations,” the president said on Truth Social on Sept. 9. “I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi, in the upcoming weeks.

“I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!”

This update stood in contrast to the president’s comments on his social media platform less than one week ago, in response to Modi meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

Modi and Putin had their own meeting during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China, on Sept. 1. Modi said India had a “special and privileged” relationship with Russia, and Putin said Modi was a “dear friend,” and praised the relationship between the two countries.

“Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China,” Trump said on Sept. 5, “May they have a long and prosperous future together! President Donald J. Trump.”

That meeting in Beijing also followed Trump’s decision to levy a 50 percent tariff on Indian imports due to India’s continued purchasing of oil and weapons from Russia, which is under U.S. sanctions due to its ongoing war against Ukraine. This was an increase from an originally 26 percent reciprocal tariff imposed in April to pressure the lowering of New Delhi’s trade barriers.

Saying that the trade agreement had been “one-sided,” Trump maintained this tariff despite Modi’s offer to drop his country’s tariffs on U.S. imports to zero.

However, Trump expressed his hope that he could reach a deal with India on Sept. 5. Taking questions from members of the press in the Oval Office, the president affirmed that while he was “very disappointed” that India was buying so much oil from Russia, he would “always be friends with Modi.”

“He’s a great Prime Minister. He’s great. I'll always be friends, but I just don’t like what he’s doing at this particular moment,” he said.

“But India and the United States have a special relationship. There’s nothing to worry about.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to India’s Ministry of External Affairs for comment.

Emel Akan and Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.