India, US can roadmap for trade agreement during PM Modi’s visit to Washington – CNBC TV18

PM Modi is likely to leave for Washington DC soon after the conclusion of the AI ​​summit in France. Sources have said that Donald Trump will host a dinner at the White House for PM Modi on 12 February. The next day, the two leaders will have one each and one and delegation level interaction. The major American CEOs will also meet Prime Minister Modi on the same day. PM Modi can also address an Indian community program during his stay in the United States as he has done on previous visits, but the details of such an incident are yet to be finalized.

In 2022, the total trade between the two countries was $ 191.8 billion. India has a $ 35 billion trade surplus with the United States. In the past, Trump often complained about the trade deficit with India and even called India a “tariff king”. Speaking to the CNBC-TV18 soon after the Union Budget, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that he hopes that the two countries also include trade arrangements. “We want to work even more closely with the US to expand the partnership. We want to ensure that American goods get a proper tariff regime and Indian goods get a equal opportunity in the United States, ”he said.

To bridge the US trade deficit with India, it is likely that the Center will offer to buy more defense equipment from the United States. Beyond the visit of the United States Prime Minister, the Government of India is considering the purchase of more C-30 Hercules military transport aircraft and P-8i sea patrol aircraft than the US. India can express their intention to buy more crude oil and LNG from the US.

India and the US were very close to signing a mini trade deal in 2020, but the Biden administration separated plans to make a trade agreement with India. Former Assistant USTR and USISPF senior advisor Mark Linskot had earlier told CNBC-TV18 that in the current Trump administration, there were officers who are in favor of an early business deal with India.