Trump says US‑India trade deal close after Delhi talks

President Donald Trump expressed confidence on Thursday that the United States and India will reach a trade agreement, citing his strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said a deal would be achieved because of the rapport between the two leaders.

His remarks followed the conclusion of a four-day round of trade negotiations in New Delhi between officials from both countries. According to India’s Commerce Ministry, the discussions were conducted in a spirit of cooperation and pragmatism, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to finalizing a mutually beneficial agreement.

While optimistic about a future deal, Trump reiterated longstanding U.S. criticisms of India’s past trade policies. He claimed American companies had faced high tariffs in the Indian market while the U.S. imposed few barriers on Indian businesses. As a specific example, he cited the case of Harley-Davidson, stating that India had previously imposed tariffs of up to 200 percent on the American motorcycle manufacturer's products, which he said precluded its sales. He contrasted this with the treatment of Indian motorcycle brands in the...