Washington D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated he may visit India in 2026, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he calls a "friend" and a "great man," desires him to visit. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump shared that discussions with PM Modi are "going great" and signaled a potential strengthening of trade ties between the two nations.
Trump highlighted what he perceived as a significant shift in India's energy policy, claiming that Modi had "largely stopped buying oil from Russia". He also responded to a direct question about a potential trip to India next year by saying, "It could be, yes".
The announcement comes amidst ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and India to finalize a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement. The proposed agreement, which was formally initiated in February, aims to more than double trade volumes from the current $191 billion to $500 billion by 2030. Both nations are working towards concluding this agreement, with intense negotiations and tough political decisions still required.
These trade discussions have been ongoing for several months, with five rounds of talks completed since March. A virtual discussion between negotiators from both countries took place on October 23. While a first interim agreement was initially targeted for the fall of 2025, unresolved issues related to tariffs, agriculture, and labor-intensive sectors could delay the deal.
India is reportedly seeking tariff relief for exports such as textiles, leather, gems, and seafood, while also aiming to protect its farmers, fishermen, and MSMEs. The U.S., on the other hand, is pushing for greater access to Indian markets, particularly in the agriculture, dairy, industrial goods, and services sectors. These discussions occur against the backdrop of existing U.S. tariffs, some as high as 50%, which complicate the negotiations.
Despite these challenges, Alexandra Hermann, Head of Southeast Asia Research at Oxford Economics, suggests that both sides remain optimistic about reaching a trade deal, possibly in the coming weeks. However, Indian officials have emphasized that no deal will be rushed, and national interests and sensitive sectors must be protected.
In related news, India is scheduled to host leaders from Australia, Japan, and the U.S. for the Quad summit in New Delhi. While the dates for the 2025 summit are yet to be announced, this event underscores the ongoing diplomatic engagement between the countries.
