Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke over phone on Thursday as negotiators from both countries resumed efforts to break the deadlock on a long-pending trade arrangement.
In a post on X, Modi said the two leaders “reviewed the steady progress in India-US bilateral ties” and discussed key regional and global issues. He added that India and the US would “continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity.”
The conversation came at a sensitive moment in the trade negotiations. Speaking in Washington on Wednesday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer described India as “a difficult nut to crack,” even as he acknowledged that the US had received its “best ever” trade proposal from New Delhi. American officials have been seeking greater access for US farm products—including corn and soybeans—as part of an effort to diversify exports away from China. India, however, remains firm on shielding its small farmers from foreign competition, a key sticking point that previously derailed talks in August.
Tensions rose further earlier this week after President Trump warned of imposing fresh tariffs on Indian rice, alleging dumping in the US market. The United States already imposes a 50% tariff on Indian goods—its highest on any country. Trump’s remarks followed complaints from a Louisiana farm representative at a White House roundtable, who said American growers were being hurt by rice imports from India, China and Thailand.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, both sides are continuing technical discussions in New Delhi through Thursday, with officials hopeful that political engagement at the top level could provide momentum for a breakthrough.
