Modi, Trump ‘very close’ to trade deal

In the past, Modi and Trump have shown warmth and friendship towards each other, including hugs and compliments from time to time. But relations between Washington and New Delhi cooled over several issues, one of the biggest issues being Trump’s 50% tariffs on India.

More recently, the US Navy attacked several ships in the Strait of Hormuz, killing three Indian sailors. India’s foreign minister lodged a “strong protest” with Washington, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement that did not go down well with Indians.

Trump was seen appearing in front of journalists in France.

Speaking about Modi, the US President said, “He is a very tough negotiator, one of the toughest in fact. So you look at this guy, I will teach you a lesson.”

“He’s the most beautiful looking man. He looks great. He’s like an angel, but actually he’s a killer.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump made “significant progress” on a long-awaited trade deal when they met in France, India’s External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

“The leaders expressed particular satisfaction at the significant progress made in the negotiations towards an interim bilateral trade agreement and directed their officials to work towards a balanced, mutually beneficial and commercially meaningful agreement at the earliest,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a press statement.

When a reporter asked Trump when the agreement would be signed, the President said they were “very close.”

New Delhi and Washington are currently working on an interim trade deal, which followed a phone call between Modi and Trump in February.

The final agreement was due to be negotiated by March, but has been delayed by Washington’s desired access to India’s agricultural sector, strained diplomatic ties and fresh tariff threats from the US.

Many people were hopeful that a personal meeting between Trump and Modi would work out.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will visit India next week.

Good morning! And welcome to DW’s India news blog.

I’m Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi bureau, here to give you fast and clear insight into what’s happening in the world’s most populous country. We’ll cover the latest news points, what people are talking about and what the bureau is keeping an eye on.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fresh from meeting US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in France. Despite strained diplomatic relations and Washington’s growing disregard for New Delhi, the two leaders appeared as friendly as ever.

The meeting appears to have advanced an important and pending trade deal.

Domestically, India is preparing for the re-examination of NEET-UG examinations. It is a national medical entrance examination taken by more than 2.2 million students every year. The original exam, in May, was canceled after the paper was leaked, leading to suicide by several students, the rise of a youth movement demanding the resignation of the education minister, and a temporary ban on the messaging platform Telegram.

Now all eyes are on the retake, which will also test India’s ability to conduct examinations on a large scale without failing its students.

Meanwhile, India’s eastern state of West Bengal is running on anarchy. It marks a month since Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in the state for the first time in history, ending the rule of Indian political giant Mamata Banerjee. Now, the existence of Banerjee and her party is in limbo.

Stay tuned for all this and more!