US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that Washington is negotiating a fresh trade agreement with India, reiterating his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His statement was made as there have been constant trade talks between the two nations, after sharp American tariffs on Indian products.
While delivering a speech in South Korea before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Trump stated, "I'm doing a trade deal with India, and I have great respect and love for Prime Minister Modi. We have a great relationship."
Earlier in August, Trump's administration had also levied duties of up to 50% on Indian imports as additional tariffs over India's continued oil trade with Russia.
Also Read: Donald Trump grooves to ‘YMCA’ with Navy crew on USS George Washington during Japan visit: Watch
India stands by oil trade position
As per a report by the Hindustan Times, India has maintained that its energy acquisitions are based on market forces and the need for national security and not geopolitical alignment. India has always argued that it is its right to secure energy at affordable rates for its people.
'We have a great relationship'
Trump's upbeat mood is a departure from his earlier threats correlating trade concessions with India's oil imports. "I have great respect and love for Prime Minister Modi. We have a great relationship”, Trump said in Seoul.
The President also recalled a tense confrontation involving Indian and Pakistani leaders, saying his intervention head off a possible conflict. Trump said, "These are two nuclear nations. And they're really going at it. And I called Prime Minister Modi and said, we can't make a trade deal with you. No, no, we must make a trade deal. I said, no, we can't. You're starting a war with Pakistan. We're not going to do it. And then I called Pakistan and said, we're not going to do trade with you because you're fighting with India. They said, no, no, you should let us fight." He further said, after literally two days, they called up and they said, we understand, and they stopped fighting."
Also Read: POTUS praises PM Modi amid Russian oil talks, says ‘He loves Trump’
Trump continued with a smile, further saying, "Prime Minister Modi is the nicest-looking guy. He's a killer. He's tough as hell."
