Trump Modi signal thaw as US-India trade talks resume

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi signaled a thaw in a months-long trade standoff on Tuesday, saying they would resume negotiations and speak in the coming weeks even as Washington presses European partners to consider sweeping tariffs on India and China to punish purchases of Russian oil. Indian chief trade negotiator Rajesh Agarwal is expected to travel to Washington next week for talks, officials and people familiar with the matter said, as both sides seek to repair ties strained after the United States doubled duties on many Indian goods to 50 percent.

Trump announced the outreach in a post on Truth Social, saying he looked forward to speaking with his very good friend Prime Minister Modi and expressing confidence a deal could be reached. Modi replied on X that he too looked forward to the conversation and that trade negotiations would help unlock the India-U.S. partnership. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India was in active dialogue toward a trade deal, according to comments reported by Indian media.

The rapprochement follows a bitter period of recriminations over New Delhi’s continued imports of discounted Russian crude since Moscow’s full-scale...