PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States: During their meeting at the White House on Thursday, PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed trade, tariffs, and defence ties. While Donald Trump had previously threatened to impose tariffs, the two leaders demonstrated a willingness to negotiate, raising the prospect of concessions from both sides.
Donald Trump, known for his deal-making persona, acknowledged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a “much better negotiator” than him. In a lighthearted moment, Modi referenced Trump’s iconic “MAGA” slogan, saying he was dedicated to “Make India Great Again”.
The meeting between the two world leaders has also received significant attention from the global media, with various outlets analysing key aspects of their discussions.
Here’s how world media covered the PM Modi-Donald Trump meeting:
According to Reuters, Narendra Modi and Donald Trump have set an ambitious target of doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Their discussions covered key sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and strategic minerals, with both leaders emphasising the importance of a mutually beneficial trade agreement.
However, another news agency, Associated Press, highlighted Trump’s criticism of India’s high import duties, calling them “very unfair,” and reiterated his commitment to implementing reciprocal tariffs.
Defence and strategic partnerships
According to the Financial Times, the United States wants to strengthen military ties with India, including the possibility of selling F-35 fighter jets as part of a 10-year defence cooperation plan. This move is consistent with Washington’s broader strategy of countering Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Immigration and human rights
The issue of illegal immigration was also discussed prominently. According to Reuters, Modi stated that India is willing to repatriate its citizens living illegally in the United States and called for collaborative efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks. Notably, both leaders avoided discussing sensitive issues like minority rights, which sparked criticism from advocacy groups.
India to boost oil imports from US
According to Bloomberg, India is looking to increase its imports of oil and gas from the United States in order to reduce the two countries’ trade imbalance and avoid potential retaliatory tariffs.
“I think we purchased about $15 billion in US energy output,” foreign secretary Vikram Misri said at a media briefing in Washington on Thursday, according to Bloomberg.
“There is a good chance that this figure will go up as much as $25 billion,” said the economist.
Misri continued: “it is entirely possible increased energy purchases will contribute to impacting the deficit between India and US.”
Global perspectives on the meeting
The BBC reported that the meeting was mostly symbolic, with little substantive progress on trade disputes. However, it recognised that both leaders took advantage of the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to strategic ties and shared geopolitical interests.
The British broadcaster spoke with Abhijit Das, former head of the Centre for WTO Studies at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, who suggested that India counter Trump’s reciprocal tariff logic, particularly in agriculture, where the US imposes strict non-tariff barriers that limit Indian exports, such as stiff maximum residue limits on chemicals. He argued that because the US “heavily subsidises” its farm sector, India should highlight these subsidies to counter American claims.
Reuters also highlighted human rights concerns, criticising both leaders for avoiding discussions about democratic values and press freedom.
AFP reported that the meeting was part of a larger US strategy to counter China’s influence in the region. The agency also noted that, despite strong rhetoric, there was little immediate progress in resolving trade tensions.
According to CNN, Trump’s tariffs could hit developing countries especially hard, particularly India, Brazil, Vietnam, and other South-east Asian and African countries, because they have some of the largest differences in tariff rates charged on US goods imported into their countries compared to what the US charges them.
“For instance, in 2022, the US average tariff rate on imports from India was 3%, whereas India’s average tariff rate on imports from the US was 9.5%,” according to the report, which cited World Bank statistics.
