WASHINGTON– U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about ongoing trade negotiations with India, describing the talks as “coming along great” and suggesting that a deal is likely, though he stopped short of offering a specific timeline.
“India’s coming along great,” Trump told reporters while departing for a rally in Michigan, marking his first 100 days of his second term. “I think we’ll have a deal with India… they want to make a deal.”
While President Trump refrained from setting a deadline, his comments reflect growing momentum in bilateral trade discussions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is leading negotiations with several Asian partners, indicated that India is likely to be the first country to finalize a deal following a wave of global tariff changes initiated by the administration.
Earlier this month, the U.S. imposed new reciprocal tariffs on imports, affecting nearly all of its major trading partners. Indian goods were initially hit with a 26% tariff, though that figure has since been reduced to 10% for a 90-day period. China was exempted from this temporary relief, and its exports remain subject to a steep 145% tariff.
Secretary Bessent emphasized that the Indian government’s swift and cooperative approach has positioned the country as a model partner. “I would guess that India would be one of the first trade deals we would sign,” he told CNBC, noting that a formal agreement could be finalized within days.
Unlike China, India chose not to retaliate against the U.S. tariffs and instead engaged in expedited negotiations—an approach that has drawn praise from the Trump administration.
While specific terms of the proposed deal have not yet been made public, U.S. officials are reportedly pushing for significant reductions in Indian import duties on automobiles, a longstanding issue in U.S.-India trade relations.
The Trump administration has highlighted the potential deal with India as a key achievement of its hardline trade policy, presenting it as a sign that the president’s aggressive tariff strategy is yielding results.
If signed, the agreement would mark a significant development in U.S.-India economic relations, which have seen steady growth but occasional tensions over trade imbalances and market access. (Source: IANS)
