Trump and PM Modi share strong ties, US-India trade deal likely soon: White House

India and the United States are close to finalizing a long-awaited trade deal. The White House recently said that the two countries are working hard to complete an "early harvest" trade agreement before July 9, 2025. This date is important because the US plans to impose special tariffs (extra taxes) on goods from 57 countries, including India, if no deal is reached by then.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke to the media and confirmed that talks are progressing well. She said that President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have a strong friendship. According to her, India is a key ally of the US in the Indo-Pacific region—a vast area that includes the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific Ocean.

Leavitt said, “The President said last week that the US and India are very close to a trade deal, and that is still true. Our Secretary of Commerce spoke with the President, and things are moving quickly. You will hear updates from the President and his trade team very soon regarding India.”

She also said that President Trump continues to have a very good relationship with PM Modi. She added that India plays an important role in balancing power in the Indo-Pacific, especially when it comes to handling China’s growing influence.

QUAD summit and trade talks moving fast

President Trump will soon be visiting India. He has accepted PM Modi’s invitation to attend the upcoming QUAD Summit in New Delhi. The QUAD is a group of four countries—India, the US, Japan, and Australia—that work together to keep the Indo-Pacific region safe, free, and open.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is currently in the US to attend the QUAD Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The QUAD started in 2004 as a group for disaster relief, but over time it has become a powerful strategic partnership focused on security, trade, and cooperation in the region.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently confirmed that President Trump will attend the QUAD Summit in India. “For the next meeting of QUAD, PM Modi invited President Trump to India. While accepting the invitation, President Trump said that he is excited to come to India,” Misri said.

This visit will be a big moment for India-US relations. It will highlight not just their military cooperation through QUAD but also their growing economic partnership. Both countries are working closely to make sure that their interests in the region are protected and promoted.

At the same time, trade talks between India and the US are moving at a fast pace. A group of Indian officials led by Rajesh Agrawal, who is the Special Secretary for Commerce, arrived in Washington, D.C. last week. They are there to discuss key trade issues and make progress before the July 9 deadline.

The main goal is to sign an early agreement that will solve some major problems between the two countries. Later this year, by September or October, both sides hope to sign a broader and more detailed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

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This deal will cover several important areas such as digital trade, agricultural goods, tariffs on industrial products, and rules around investment. Experts believe that such a trade agreement will increase business between the two countries and create more jobs and growth on both sides.

India and the US have faced several trade challenges in the past few years. These include disagreements over import duties, digital taxes, and market access for farm and medical products. However, with both sides now showing strong interest in solving these issues, there is hope for better and more stable trade relations.

The current talks are seen as an important step forward. If successful, they will help India avoid the upcoming US tariffs and also open the door for more US companies to invest in India. At the same time, Indian exporters will benefit from smoother access to the American market.

Overall, this is a major moment in India-US ties. Both countries are working together not only for trade but also for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. With strong personal ties between PM Modi and President Trump, and growing cooperation through QUAD, the future of the India-US partnership looks promising.

The next few weeks will be crucial. The outcome of the trade talks and President Trump’s visit to India will likely shape the future of both countries’ economic and strategic ties. For now, the signs are positive, and both governments seem committed to making the relationship even stronger.