U.S. President Donald Trump turned up the heat on India’s trade policies during a high-profile meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week, vowing to impose “reciprocal tariffs” in a move that could reshape bilateral economic ties. 🌍💼
🔧 Trade Tensions & Tariff Talk
Trump called out India’s average tariff rate of 39% as a major hurdle for U.S. businesses, claiming it’s “hard to sell into India because they have trade barriers.” Despite failed negotiations during his first term, Trump insisted his new “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” will level the playing field by mirroring other nations’ tariffs.
🛡️ Military Deals & Energy Exports
Amid the friction, Trump announced plans to boost defense sales to India by “many billions of dollars,” including advanced F-35 stealth fighters. He also teased a potential energy partnership, stating Modi agreed to buy more U.S. oil and gas—potentially making America India’s top supplier. ⛽🇮🇳
🤝 Modi’s Countermove
India preemptively offered concessions ahead of the summit, including slashing tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Modi set an ambitious goal to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, calling the U.S. “an indispensable partner.” 📈
While timelines for the F-35 deal remain unclear, the talks spotlight how two of the world’s largest democracies are navigating economic rivalry and strategic alignment. 🔍✨
