US doing a trade deal with India, says Donald Trump

Trump's comments in South Korea came a day before his meeting with China's Xi Jinping

- HT correspondent

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he is “doing a trade deal with India” as the US is working on similar agreements around the world to balance relationships “on the basis of reciprocity”.

After noting that he had signed “groundbreaking agreements” with Malaysia, Cambodia and Japan during his ongoing visit to Asia, Trump told the APEC CEO Summit in South Korea “I'm doing a trade deal with India and I have great respect and love, as you know, for Prime Minister Modi, we have a great relationship.”

Trump also repeated his claims about using trade to end the hostilities between India and Pakistan in May at the business summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, attended by global chief executive officers, experts and senior economic leaders.

Trump’s remarks came against the backdrop of renewed contacts between Indian and US officials in recent weeks for negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement. Talks on the trade deal had stalled after Trump hit Indian goods with 25% reciprocal tariffs in the summer, and followed it up with a 25% penalty over Russian oil purchases.