U.S. President Donald Trump Tuesday said he had a wonderful call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after the two sides held a “positive” meeting in New Delhi Tuesday aimed at restarting stalled negotiations on a bilateral trade deal, officials said. two sides hold trade meeting
“Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday!” Trump said. two sides hold trade meeting
“He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine! President DJT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social site.
Modi reciprocated Trump’s statement by saying India supports the U.S. initiatives towards a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict. two sides hold trade meeting
“Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday, Modi wrote in a post on X. two sides hold trade meeting
“Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” the Indian prime minister added.a broader push for expedited trade deals. two sides hold trade meeting
Earlier U.S. and Indian officials held a meeting in New Delhi following months of diplomatic strain over India’s continued oil purchases from Russia and heightened U.S. tariffs on Indian goods.
The talks, held between Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Brendan Lynch and Rajesh Agarwal, Special Secretary in India’s Ministry of Commerce, focused on bridging gaps that had previously derailed progress in trade discussions.
Washington and New Delhi had previously conducted five rounds of negotiations but failed to reach an agreement before the August 1 deadline set under former President Donald Trump’s administration. That deadline was part of
While no formal timeline was announced for resuming full-scale negotiations, both sides described Tuesday’s discussions as “positive,” indicating a willingness to re-engage despite lingering tensions.
Relations have been strained further by Washington’s recent tariff measures. In August, the U.S. imposed an additional 25% tariff on certain Indian exports—raising total tariffs to 50%—as part of its broader strategy to pressure countries maintaining economic ties with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday. Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 16, 2025
The economic fallout is already beginning to show. According to India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, exports to the U.S. declined to $6.86 billion in August from $8.01 billion in July.
Overall exports fell to a nine-month low of $35.10 billion, down from $37.24 billion the previous month. Despite this, India’s trade deficit narrowed slightly to $26.49 billion.
Exporters warn that the full impact of the increased U.S. tariffs will become more apparent in September and October trade data.
While the latest meeting marks a step in the right direction, key disagreements remain unresolved. The U.S. continues to urge India to reduce its reliance on Russian oil and defense imports. Simultaneously, Washington is pushing for greater access to India’s agricultural markets, particularly in sensitive areas such as dairy and grains.
US says India must curb Russian oil purchases if it wats a trade deal
India, for its part, remains cautious. New Delhi has resisted liberalizing these sectors, citing domestic political sensitivities and national food security concerns. Analysts note that how India balances these competing pressures will be crucial to the success of any future trade agreement.
Following the meeting, both governments issued cautiously optimistic statements. India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry described the talks as “positive and forward-looking,” adding that both sides agreed to intensify efforts toward the “early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement.” two sides hold trade meeting
Echoing the sentiment, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said: “Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Brendan Lynch had a positive meeting in Delhi with his counterpart, Ministry of Commerce and Industry Special Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, on September 16 to discuss next steps in bilateral trade negotiations. two sides hold trade meeting
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Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
