Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit the United States in the last week of September. While the primary purpose of his trip is to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, a key objective will be to meet US President Donald Trump and address trade-related differences, aiming to reach a common ground on tariffs.
Speculation is rife that the September meeting could pave the way for a major trade deal. For such a deal to materialize, progress is needed on two fronts: the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Indo-US trade negotiations.
Delhi has been under significant pressure, having been slapped with 50% tariffs by the US—25% as high tariffs on Indian goods and another 25% as a penalty for its purchases of Russian oil. On the geopolitical front, India is closely monitoring the upcoming meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15, which is expected to address the Ukraine crisis. Modi has already spoken to both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recent days, emphasizing that a resolution to the conflict aligns with India’s strategic interests.
On the trade front, negotiators from India and the US had been close to finalizing an agreement, but Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the terms initially proposed. Both sides now aim to revisit the negotiations, with a renewed focus on Mission 500, an ambitious plan to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
During Modi’s visit to the White House in February this year, both nations agreed to work towards Mission 500, emphasizing the need for fair and new trade terms. They had also planned to negotiate the first tranche of a multi-sectoral Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall, taking an integrated approach to strengthen trade across goods and services sectors. However, these plans have faced delays and challenges.
For the upcoming visit, India has coordinated with the UN headquarters to secure a speaking slot for the Prime Minister at the UNGA, currently scheduled for the morning of September 26. Trump is slated to address the UNGA on September 23. The visit, therefore, would provide Modi an opportunity not only to speak at the UNGA but also to hold bilateral discussions with Trump and other global leaders.
Relations between India and the US have seen some strain in recent months. Trump’s claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which Delhi denied, and his subsequent criticism of India’s tariffs—including the imposition of 50% tariffs—have added complexities to the bilateral relationship.
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