Modi-Trump Meeting Likely At UNGA Next Month Amid Simmering Trade Tensions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the United States next month to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with plans underway for a crucial meeting with President Donald Trump to address escalating trade frictions that have strained ties between the two nations. The high-stakes visit to New York, set for the last week of September, comes as both countries are engaged in hectic negotiations to avert a full-blown trade dispute.
If the meeting goes ahead, it will be the second interaction between the two leaders in seven months, following PM Modi’s visit to the White House in February this year. While the personal bond forged during Trump’s first term was a hallmark of the relationship, the bonhomie has been tested by what sources call Trump’s “compulsive bluster on tariffs” in his second term. The key objective of the proposed meeting is to iron out differences on tariffs and potentially announce a bilateral trade deal that has been stalled over India’s reluctance to open its agriculture and dairy sectors to the US.
The situation has been compounded by Washington’s recent punitive actions. The Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff on a range of Indian products, which came into effect on August 7. This was followed by the announcement of an additional 25% levy, specifically targeting India for its continued purchase of Russian oil, bringing the total potential duty to a staggering 50%. The second tranche of these tariffs is set to take effect on August 27, creating a pressing deadline for ongoing negotiations.
India’s procurement of Russian oil has become a major flashpoint, with the White House arguing that these purchases sustain Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine. Trump has been vocal in his criticism, pressuring New Delhi to cut its imports. However, India has strongly countered these accusations, labeling the US tariffs as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable” and pointing to American hypocrisy, as US companies continue to import Russian products like uranium, chemicals, and fertilizers.
In this charged environment, New Delhi will be closely watching the outcome of a scheduled meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15, which aims to discuss a resolution to the conflict. Besides the potential meeting with Trump, PM Modi is also expected to hold talks with other world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
