Trump says India-US trade deal soon, calls PM Modi 'a good friend'

Trump on Thursday said the United States and India would eventually close a trade deal, linking the progress to his personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“But we will get to a deal because I like your Prime Minister Narendra Modi a lot,” Trump said, adding that the two leaders “have a good relationship” and describing Modi as a “good friend” as he defended his view of the trade balance between the two countries.

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The machinery of commerce hums along

The remarks came as trade talks between the two sides gathered pace after a four-day visit by United States Trade Representative officials to New Delhi from June 1 to 4.

According to Hindustan Times, the discussions covered market access, non-tariff barriers, customs procedures, trade facilitation measures and economic security cooperation.

Washington was reviewing a temporary waiver that allows India and other countries to buy Russian oil, adding another layer to the negotiations.

A few loose threads remain untied

In New Delhi, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the two countries were close to finalising a significant trade agreement.

Speaking on the sidelines of the CITI India 2026 Conference, Gor said President Trump “deeply values” India and his friendship with Modi.

Gor said 99 per cent of the trade deal was complete, with only minor issues left to settle. He also said bilateral trade had expanded from about $20 billion to nearly $220 billion over the past two decades, with growth driven by innovation and high-value sectors.

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Little more than punctuation, it would seem

Gor said the immediate priority was to conclude the ongoing agreement and deepen economic cooperation.

Trump wanted the US-India bond to become the “defining relationship” of this generation.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, meanwhile, said the remaining issues in the first phase of the pact were minor, describing them as “commas and full stops.”