In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, US President Donald Trump announced a major reduction in tariffs on Indian imports following a candid phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders discussed critical issues ranging from bilateral trade to global energy dynamics and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Trump shared details of the call on his Truth Social platform, describing Modi as one of his closest friends and a powerful leader. He highlighted their agreement on trade measures, including slashing reciprocal tariffs on India from 25% to 18%. In return, India committed to progressively eliminating its tariffs and non-tariff barriers against US goods.
The conversation also touched on India’s oil procurement strategy. Trump claimed Modi agreed to halt Russian oil purchases and ramp up imports from the US and potentially Venezuela. This shift, according to Trump, could play a pivotal role in ending the Ukraine war, where thousands lose lives weekly.
Further bolstering ties, Modi pledged massive ‘Buy American’ purchases exceeding $500 billion in US energy, technology, agriculture, coal, and other products. Trump emphasized that both nations’ action-oriented leadership will strengthen Indo-US relations in the coming years.
This development precedes External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s upcoming official visit to the US, signaling deeper strategic alignment between the two democracies amid global tensions.