Trump raps India again on tariffs, tech

After claiming credit for ending India’s recent military escalation with Pakistan, US President Donald Trump appeared to rankle New Delhi again on Thursday with comments about high-stakes US-India trade negotiations and Apple's production of iPhones in the country.

- ALEX TRAVELLI

Trump, speaking to business leaders during his visit to Qatar, said India was nearing “a deal where basically they are willing to literally charge us no tariff” without offering any details.

In response, S. Jaishankar, India's foreign minister, was careful not to contradict the president directly. “Trade talks have been going on,” Mr Jaishankar told the Indian news media, adding that the negotiations “are very intricate” and “nothing is decided until everything is.”

Mr Jaishankar emphasised that there would be no deal until India and the United States settled on one that is mutually beneficial. “Until that is done, I think any judgment on it would be premature,” he said.