Modi, Trump review ties amid trade talks

PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, even as negotiators from both sides wrapped up two-day talks here to finalise the contours of the initial tranche of an "elusive" bilateral trade agreement (BTA).

- MUKESH JAGOTA

Modi described the conversation with Trump as “warm and engaging.” He said he and the US President “reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments,” without an explicit reference to the BTA or the punitive US tariff being levied on Indian exports. “India and the US will continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity,” the Prime Minister posted on X.

Meanwhile, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran told Bloomberg that he would be surprised if the trade deal with the US isn’t signed by March, as most trade-related issues have been resolved.

"I WAS HOPING something would be done by the end of November, but it has turned out to be elusive," Nageswaran said. "That's why it is difficult to give a timeline on this. However, I would be surprised if we don't have it sealed by the end of the financial year." The US team to New Delhi was led by Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer and included Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia and chief negotiator for the BTA from the US side.