Trump emphasizes 'fair' trade relations with India

28/1/2025 6:07

Donald Trump stressed the importance of India buying more

American-made security equipment and moving toward a fair

bilateral trading relationship in a phone call with Prime

Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, the White House said.



In what the White House called a "productive call," the

leaders discussed expanding and deepening cooperation and

regional issues, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the

Middle East, and Europe.



They also discussed plans for Modi to visit the White

House, "underscoring the strength of the friendship and

strategic ties between our nations," it said.



Reuters reported last week that Indian and U.S diplomats

are trying to arrange a



meeting of the two leaders



as early as February.



"The president emphasized the importance of India

increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment

and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship," a

White House statement said.



The United States is India's largest trading partner and

two-way trade between the two countries surpassed $118 billion

in 2023/24, with India posting a trade surplus of $32 billion.



India, a strategic partner of the United States in its

efforts to counter China, is keen to enhance trade with the U.S.

and make it easier for its citizens to get skilled worker visas.



The White House said both leaders emphasized their

commitment to advancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership and

the



Quad grouping



that brings together the United States and India with

Australia and Japan, with India to host Quad leaders later this

year.



Foreign ministers of the Quad, who share concerns about

China's growing power, met last week in Washington the day after

Trump's return to office and



recommitted to working together



.



Earlier on Monday, Modi referred to Trump as a "dear friend"

and said they were both "committed to a mutually beneficial and

trusted partnership."



"We will work together for the welfare of our people and

towards global peace, prosperity, and security," Modi said in a

social-media post.