top of page

By:

Correspondent

21 August 2024 at 10:20:16 am

Kaleidoscope

Devotees take part in a kalash yatra marking the 650th birth anniversary of Bhakti movement mystic poet-saint Guru Ravidas in Varanasi on Tuesday. Tiger cubs of tigress Rani play near a pond inside their enclosure at Nahargarh Biological Park on the outskirts of Jaipur ahead of International Tiger Day on Monday. Tom Holland (left) and Zendaya arrive at the premiere of 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday. People visit the historic Ram Tirath temple on the...

Kaleidoscope

Devotees take part in a kalash yatra marking the 650th birth anniversary of Bhakti movement mystic poet-saint Guru Ravidas in Varanasi on Tuesday. Tiger cubs of tigress Rani play near a pond inside their enclosure at Nahargarh Biological Park on the outskirts of Jaipur ahead of International Tiger Day on Monday. Tom Holland (left) and Zendaya arrive at the premiere of 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday. People visit the historic Ram Tirath temple on the outskirts of Amritsar on Tuesday. A man cycles through a waterlogged road amid heavy rain in the Nizamuddin area, New Delhi, on Tuesday.

Trump optimistic about US-India trade talks 'working out very well', terms Modi 'smart man'

  • PTI
  • Mar 29, 2025
  • 2 min read

New York/Washington: President Donald Trump has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "very smart man" and his "great friend" while emphasising that tariff talks between the US and India would "work out very well".


The remarks assume significance as they came the same day Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri spoke with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to discuss bilateral trade, including the reduction of barriers to achieve a balanced trade relationship.


"Prime Minister Modi was here just recently and we have always been very good friends," the US president said in the White House on Friday.


The remarks came days before Trump's reciprocal tariffs on the United States' trade partners kick in on April 2.


"India is one of the highest tariffing nations in the world.¿ it's brutal, it's brutal. They're very smart. He (Modi) is a very smart man and a great friend of mine. We had very good talks. I think it's going to work out very well between India and our country," Trump said.


"And I want to say you have a great prime minister," he said.


During their conversation, Misri and Landau "touched on the growing bilateral trade, defence and technology cooperation, and issues relating to mobility and migration", the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in New Delhi.


US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the two officials discussed "ongoing efforts to reduce barriers to achieve a fair and balanced bilateral trade relationship" and strengthen collaboration in defence and technology."


US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch is currently in India and holding talks with his Indian interlocutors on firming up a bilateral trade agreement (BTA).


Prime Minister Modi visited Washington DC in February and held bilateral discussions with Trump. The visit came less than a month after Trump was sworn in as US President for a second term.


During Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US last month, both sides announced plans to negotiate a mutually beneficial, multi-sector BTA.


In the past, Trump called India a "tariff king" and a "big abuser".

Comments

bottom of page