SHEIKH SAALIQ, Associated Press
FILE – An Indian man parks his Harley Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle in New Delhi, India, March 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)
NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump met at the White House on Thursday to discuss reducing tariffs, addressing trade disputes, and strengthening defense relations.
Despite Trump’s threats of imposing tariffs, both leaders indicated a willingness to negotiate on trade, hinting at potential concessions from both New Delhi and Washington.
Trump complimented Modi as a “much better negotiator than me,” and Modi creatively responded by referencing Trump’s “MAGA” slogan, asserting he is committed to “Make India Great Again.”
Here are some significant points from their discussion:
Trade and tariffs dominated the agenda
Trade and tariff concerns were pivotal in their talks. Trump expressed that New Delhi’s tariff policies are “very unfair and strong,” suggesting that India would not escape scrutiny.
However, both leaders agreed to negotiate a solution to these trade issues, with Modi anticipating the completion of an agreement by the end of the year.
Trump also indicated a desire to reduce the current $50 billion trade deficit with India by boosting U.S. energy exports to the nation.
Modi proposed increasing bilateral trade with the U.S. to $500 billion by 2030.
“Trump’s intention is to alter the global trading landscape. India is aware of this and is now seeking practical solutions to its challenges,” noted Raja Mohan, an analyst at the Institute of South Asian Studies in Singapore.
A renewed defense alliance is in the works
Trump announced plans for the U.S. to increase military sales to India, including a potential deal for F-35 stealth fighter jets, although no timeline was provided. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conveyed that the proposal is currently under consideration.
Rahul Bedi, a defense analyst based in India, remarked that such an arrangement could take “several years” to finalize.
Since 2008, India has procured over $20 billion in U.S.-origin defense equipment, and a recent agreement will enable U.S.-based General Electric to collaborate with an Indian firm to manufacture jet engines in India.
Modi and Trump also concurred on enhancing security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, which indirectly addresses the rising competition with China in the area.
Extradition of a terror attack suspect to India has been discussed
Trump expressed support for extraditing a suspect involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 166 people, likely referring to Tahawwur Hussain Rana.
Indian officials have asserted that Pakistan’s intelligence services collaborated with the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taibah in orchestrating the attack, which Islamabad has denied.
The extradition of Rana would enhance Modi’s standing domestically, as he has maintained a hardline approach towards Pakistan.
Modi and Trump also touched upon immigration issues, with the Indian prime minister assuring he would accept any citizens illegally residing in the U.S.
Recently, India accepted the return of 104 migrants on a U.S. military flight.
___
Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma contributed to this report.