Modi-Trump bromance seen as a good sign for Indo-US ties

The much-awaited hug came. Their hands clasped for handshakes that lingered. Smiles and fulsome praises were exchanged.

- Debarshi Dasgupta

All this was ample indication that the bromance between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump remains alive. Since they met for the first time in 2017 as leaders, they have cultivated a close relationship.

It is a good sign for Indo-US ties, because their personal rapport could come handy to smooth any friction in the bilateral relationship - and there has been plenty of that in recent weeks.

Mr Trump slapped tariffs that may put Indian exports to the US at risk and deported Indian undocumented migrants in a manner that has not gone down well in New Delhi.

Hours before the two leaders met at the White House on Feb 14, Mr Trump authorised the US authorities to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries, if necessary, to retaliate for duties already charged by those countries on US exports.

India, which has an estimated US$46 billion (S$61.7 billion) trade surplus with the US, could be one of the most impacted, according to a report from Capital Economics, a London-based economic insights firm.

The country has been singled out by Mr Trump as a "very big abuser" of tariffs, something he brought up again during his press briefing with Mr Modi on Feb 14 as a "big problem".

Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, director-general at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries, a New Delhi-based think-tank, said it remains to be seen how India will be impacted, given that details have yet to emerge, including whether these reciprocal tariffs would be slapped on individual goods or across sectors.

"But certainly they would impact US consumers, as it would Indian industry and eventually, consumers," he told The Straits Times.

Much of the focus during Mr Modi's official working visit was on easing tariffs and boosting bilateral trade between the two countries, something India and the US want to more than double to US$500 billion by 2030.