US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism over ongoing trade negotiations with India, stating that talks are “coming along great,” further indicating confidence that a deal will be signed soon.
Speaking to reporters before departing for a rally in Michigan, marking the first 100 days of his second term, Trump said, “India’s coming along great. I think we’ll have a deal with India… they want to make a deal.” However, he refrained from setting a specific timeline for the agreement.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is leading trade negotiations with Asia-Pacific nations, recently signaled that India is likely to be the first country to finalize a deal under the new post-tariff global trade framework triggered by Trump’s aggressive trade policies.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration imposed sweeping reciprocal tariffs targeting nearly all US trade partners, citing trade imbalances. Imports from India were initially hit with a 26% tariff, which has since been temporarily reduced to 10% for a 90-day window. China, however, faces a staggering 145% tariff rate under the same policy.
India, choosing not to retaliate, quickly moved to the negotiation table, an approach that US officials have praised as a model response. “I would guess that India would be one of the first trade deals we would sign,” Bessent told CNBC, suggesting an agreement could come as early as this week or next.
Although specific terms of the deal remain undisclosed, US officials are reportedly eyeing substantial tariff cuts on imported automobiles, a key sticking point in US-India trade talks for years.
With tensions high in the global trade environment, a finalized agreement with India would mark a significant diplomatic and economic milestone for the Trump administration. (IANS Inputs)
