Trump Urges Progress on 'Fair' India-US Trade Relations in Call with Modi: White House

Trump later himself told reporters they also spoke about the issue of immigration and that Modi will visit the US sometime in February. The White House said earlier that plans for a Modi visit were discussed by the two leaders.

US President Donald Trump told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a telephone call on Monday that India should purchase more American-made security equipment and should work its way toward a fairer bilateral trading relationship, the White House said.

Trump later himself told reporters they also spoke about the issue of immigration and that Modi will visit the US sometime in February. The White House said earlier that plans for a Modi visit were discussed by the two leaders.

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In what the White House called a "productive call," the leaders discussed expanding and deepening cooperation and issues including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe.
 

Reuters reported last week that Indian and US diplomats are trying to arrange a meeting of the leaders as early as February.

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Trump and Modi were on good terms during the US president's first term, but when he was seeking re-election, Trump branded India a "very big abuser" on trade and promised to use tariffs on global imports into the US to correct imbalances. Trump has also threatened the BRICS group of nations, of which India is a part, with tariffs if they did not accept his demand of committing to not create a new currency.

In the call on Monday, Trump emphasized the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship," a White House statement said.

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The US is India's largest trading partner and two-way trade has already surpassed $118 billion in 2023/24. Surplus registered from India is $32 billion.

India is also an essential strategic partner with the US when it comes to anti-China efforts and, in an Instagram post, on Monday called Trump a "dear friend" and says they are committed to a relationship that is equally beneficial and built on trust.

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"We will do everything together that will benefit both our people to bring peace prosperity and security on the globe," said Modi.

An Indian statement said that the leaders "discussed wide-ranging subjects related to technology, trade, investment, energy and defence" and "agreed to remain in touch and meet soon at an early mutually convenient date".

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The White House said the two leaders further underlined the importance of commitment to the Quadrilateral grouping consisting of the US and India in collaboration with Australia and Japan while announcing that it would be hosted by India later this year.

Tanvi Madan, an India expert at Washington's Brookings Institution, said it seemed probable Modi would visit Washington soon, with Trump responding in kind by attending the Quad summit.

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"Trade and immigration issues are clearly on the Trump administration's agenda when it comes to India," she said. "Its impact will depend in part on India's response to Trump's asks, but also how the broader debate on those issues plays out in Washington."

Madan said India would be looking for a new US attitude towards India's warm ties with Russia, but in the meantime would have to live with US sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine war.

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'Do what's right'

Trump told reporters on Monday Modi "will do what's right" when it comes to bringing back Indian immigrants who came to the US illegally.

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During a meeting with India's foreign minister last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio underlined the desire to "address concerns related to irregular migration."

Trump has promised to crack down on illegal immigration. Bloomberg News last week reported that India and the US have identified some 18,000 Indian migrants who are in the US illegally.

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Trump has said that he is an open person to the legal migration of skilled workers; India is particularly known for massive pools of its IT professionals; many of those work across the world. So, they hold the majority position in the category of skilled workers' H1B visas issues by the US.

This week and last, the US readouts made no mention of Washington's accusations of Indian involvement in a foiled murder plot on US soil against a Sikh separatist that were an awkward factor in relations in the latter part of the administration of former President Joe Biden.

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Read also| Prime Minister Modi's February Visit to the White House Hinted by Trump

Read also| Foreign Secretary Misri in Beijing for Discussions with Chinese Officials

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