Latest news with #India-USTradeDeal
NDTV
10 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Trump's Latest Statement On India-Pak Ceasefire, Hours After PM Call
Sticking to his position despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi making it clear that India had agreed to a ceasefire based on Pakistan's request, US President Donald Trump has, once again, claimed credit for "stopping the war" between the two countries and even complained that "not one story" had been written about it. PM Modi and Mr Trump spoke over the phone for 35 minutes on Wednesday after the US president had to leave the G7 Summit in Canada early and their planned meeting could not happen. Briefing reporters, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the PM had told Mr Trump that Pakistan was compelled to request a ceasefire. On Operation Sindoor, which was a response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, PM Modi informed Mr Trump that India's response had been measured and non-escalatory and India had only targeted terrorist camps and hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US Trade Deal, or any proposal for a mediation by the US between India and Pakistan. The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces, and it was initiated at Pakistan's request," Mr Misri said. "Prime Minister Modi firmly stated that India does not and will never accept mediation. There is complete political consensus in India on this matter," he added. Speaking to reporters later in the day, hours before his meeting with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir at the White House, Mr Trump, however, continued to claim that he had stopped the war and, at the same time, stated that PM Modi had been "very influential". "Well, I stopped the war between Pakistan - I love Pakistan - I think Modi is a fantastic man, I spoke to him last night. We are going to make a trade deal with Modi of India... And I stopped the war between Pakistan and India. This man (possibly referring to Asim Munir) was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistani side, Modi from the India side, and others. And they were going at it, they are both nuclear countries. I got it stopped," Mr Trump claimed. Complaining that the press had not taken note of this, he continued, "I don't think I had one story written, did I have one story written? I stopped a war between two major nations, major nuclear nations. I did not have a story written about it, but that's okay. You know why, the people know." Direct Contact India has emphasised, on several occasions, that neither the US nor any third party had a role in its decision to cease military hostilities with Pakistan. New Delhi has maintained that the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations sought to speak to his Indian counterpart on May 10 after India struck several airbases in the country, including the important Nur Khan airbase, also known as the Chaklala airbase. This has not, however, stopped Mr Trump from repeatedly taking credit for the ceasefire. He did so, in fact, as recently as Sunday and repeated the claim that his carrot-or-stick approach with trade had helped broker the truce. "Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make, in that case by using TRADE with the United States to bring reason, cohesion, and sanity into the talks with two excellent leaders who were able to quickly make a decision and STOP!" he claimed.
Observer
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Observer
India's Modi says Trump did not mediate Pakistan ceasefire
New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Donald Trump that the ceasefire between New Delhi and Pakistan last month was worked out directly between the arch-rivals, a top Indian diplomat said Wednesday. The US president had said that the two nuclear-armed neighbours had agreed to end a four-day conflict on May 10 after "a long night of talks mediated by the United States". It was their worst standoff since 1999, with more than 70 people killed in missile, drone and artillery fire on both sides. Officials from Islamabad and New Delhi confirmed the ceasefire on May 10, minutes after Trump posted the announcement on his Truth Social network. Indian officials said immediately that the ceasefire was worked out bilaterally, not with Washington. India's top career diplomat, Vikram Misri, said in a video statement on Wednesday that the leaders had spoken by telephone after Trump left early from the G7 summit in Canada, which Modi also attended. "Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US Trade Deal, or any proposal for a mediation by the US between India and Pakistan," Misri said, speaking in Hindi. "The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces, and it was initiated at Pakistan's request." The last time Modi and Trump spoke was just after the April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administrated Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan -- claims Islamabad denied. Misri repeated New Delhi's long held view that "India does not and will never accept mediation". Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, which have fought multiple wars over the Himalayan territory since being carved up at the end of British rule in 1947. He added that Trump said he would visit India for the next Quad alliance, the grouping that also includes Japan and Australia, expected later this year. "President Trump accepted the invitation and said that he is looking forward to visiting India", Misri added. The talks between the leaders come as India seeks to secure an interim agreement to shield it from the worst of Trump's so-called reciprocal tariffs, which are set to kick in July after a 90-day-pause. New Delhi is not an export powerhouse, but it ran up a $45.7 billion trade surplus with the United States in 2024. Analysts have indicated that tariff risks could impact India's economic outlook, with industry groups in sectors like gems and jewellery warning of potentially significant job losses. Negotiators from the two nations have made several back-and-forth trips over the last few months, with US Vice President JD Vance announcing in April that the countries had officially finalised the terms of reference for the negotiation.
The Sun
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
India's Modi says Trump did not mediate Pakistan ceasefire
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Donald Trump that the ceasefire between New Delhi and Pakistan last month was worked out directly between the arch-rivals, a top Indian diplomat said Wednesday. The US president had said that the two nuclear-armed neighbours had agreed to end a four-day conflict on May 10 after 'a long night of talks mediated by the United States'. It was their worst standoff since 1999, with more than 70 people killed in missile, drone and artillery fire on both sides. Officials from Islamabad and New Delhi confirmed the ceasefire on May 10, minutes after Trump posted the announcement on his Truth Social network. Indian officials said immediately that the ceasefire was worked out bilaterally, not with Washington. India's top career diplomat, Vikram Misri, said in a video statement on Wednesday that the leaders had spoken by telephone after Trump left early from the G7 summit in Canada, which Modi also attended. 'Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US Trade Deal, or any proposal for a mediation by the US between India and Pakistan,' Misri said, speaking in Hindi. 'The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces, and it was initiated at Pakistan's request.' The last time Modi and Trump spoke was just after the April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administrated Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan -- claims Islamabad denied. Misri repeated New Delhi's long held view that 'India does not and will never accept mediation'. Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, which have fought multiple wars over the Himalayan territory since being carved up at the end of British rule in 1947. He added that Trump said he would visit India for the next Quad alliance, the grouping that also includes Japan and Australia, expected later this year. 'President Trump accepted the invitation and said that he is looking forward to visiting India', Misri added. The talks between the leaders come as India seeks to secure an interim agreement to shield it from the worst of Trump's so-called reciprocal tariffs, which are set to kick in July after a 90-day-pause. New Delhi is not an export powerhouse, but it ran up a $45.7 billion trade surplus with the United States in 2024. Analysts have indicated that tariff risks could impact India's economic outlook, with industry groups in sectors like gems and jewellery warning of potentially significant job losses. Negotiators from the two nations have made several back-and-forth trips over the last few months, with US Vice President JD Vance announcing in April that the countries had officially finalised the terms of reference for the negotiation.
NDTV
30-04-2025
- Business
- NDTV
"India Coming Along Great": Donald Trump On Trade Talks
Washington: US President Donald Trump has said that America's tariff negotiations with India are 'coming along great,' and Washington can strike a trade deal with New Delhi soon. Trump had imposed a 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on India, and later paused it for 90 days to discuss trade agreements. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday outside the White House, the American leader said, 'I think we'll have a deal with India." 'The prime minister (Modi), as you know, was here three weeks ago, and they want to make a deal," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States in late February. Trump's remarks came after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated that Washington had reached a trade deal with New Delhi and was waiting for final approvals from the Indian government before announcing it. "I have a deal done ... but I need to wait for their prime minister and their parliament to give its approval," Lutnick told CNBC in an interview on Tuesday. Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said America was 'very close" to signing a deal with India. He said on Monday that India could be one of the first to sign a trade deal with the US, possibly as soon as this week or next, although he gave no further details. Statements from the Trump administration have said the two sides have already agreed on a roadmap for trade discussions. India-US Trade Deal India may offer a 'forward most-favoured-nation' clause to the United States as part of the proposed bilateral trade agreement, which the two nations aim to sign by fall 2025, according to a report by news agency Reuters. The clause is rarely granted by India in previous trade negotiations and would automatically apply to the US any more-favourable tariff arrangements that might be agreed with other countries, the report said, quoting two officials with direct knowledge of the matter. The inclusion of the clause in the deal will "future-proof" a deal by ensuring no other trade partners could have superior terms. Moreover, India has reportedly also made a number of offers and pre-emptive concessions to the US on trade, showing itself more eager than several other big trading partners of Washington, including China, Canada and the European Union. New Delhi would, however, need assurances that it could become a major supplier to the US market in areas vacated by the Chinese, the report said. After weeks of talks with the US, India has reportedly also shown it is willing to offer more and to include politically sensitive sectors such as agriculture. Out of 24 categories of goods traded between the two countries, 19 have been selected for fast-track discussions, according to Reuters. The remaining five categories, mainly contentious farm products such as soybeans and corn, as well as military equipment, could be discussed in a second phase of talks. India has proposed reducing duties to 0 per cent to 5 per cent on US frozen meat and a variety of agricultural products, including fish, poultry and a number of fruits and juices, the official said. Those products are currently assessed at 30 per cent to 100 per cent. "India is in a position to offer tariff concessions on nearly 90 per cent of tariff lines immediately out of about 12,000 tariff lines," said the official, who, like the others, asked not to be named. "Tariff concessions on remaining items could be offered in a phased manner," he said. In return, New Delhi has asked for favourable tariff treatment for labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, toys, leather goods, furniture, gems and jewellery, and automotive components, the official said. New Delhi has also sought a long-term commitment from Washington on preferential treatment for pharmaceuticals and engineering goods such as industrial equipment and components, aiming to become a trusted partner in the supply chains of major U.S. companies. The Trump administration wants to sign deals with India and other trading partners before a 90-day pause on the proposed reciprocal tariffs lapses in July.
