US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, calling him a “very smart man” and a “great friend,” while expressing optimism about ongoing trade discussions between India and the United States.
Speaking to reporters at the swearing-in ceremony of US attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, Trump lauded PM Modi as a “great prime minister” and highlighted the strong personal rapport between them.
“Prime Minister Modi was here just recently, and we’ve always been very good friends,” Trump said. “India is one of the highest tariffing nations in the world… They’re very smart. He (PM Modi) is a very smart man and a great friend of mine. We had very good talks. I think it’s going to work out very well between India and our country. And I want to say you have a great prime minister.”
Trump’s remarks followed Modi’s visit to the US in February, where both leaders agreed to initiate negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall of 2025. This agreement is expected to enhance economic ties between the two nations.
Meanwhile, Trump made a significant policy announcement from the Oval Office on Thursday, declaring a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles entering the United States. Set to take effect on April 2, the measure is expected to impact nearly half of all vehicles sold in the country, including American brands manufactured overseas. The move aims to encourage domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign-made vehicles.
Trump has previously criticized India’s trade policies, calling it a “hard place to do business” and pointing out the high tariffs imposed on American goods, particularly in the automobile sector. He reiterated his commitment to implementing reciprocal tariffs, stating, “We will soon impose reciprocal tariffs—they charge us, we charge them. Whatever a company or a country, such as India or China, charges, we want to be fair; hence, reciprocal.”
Addressing a joint session of the US Congress, Trump confirmed that these new tariffs would be implemented starting April 2, vowing to protect US industries from what he described as unfair trade practices by other nations, including the European Union, China, Brazil, and Mexico.
