A major trade-related development has emerged between India and the United States, as both countries have reached an agreement on a long-awaited trade deal. US President Donald Trump announced a significant reduction in tariffs on Indian goods, cutting them from 50% to 18%, calling it a result of strong personal ties and cooperation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump shared the announcement on social media, praising PM Modi as one of his closest friends and stating that India–US relations will become even stronger. According to Trump, the agreement was reached following discussions with the Indian leadership, and the tariff cut will apply with immediate effect, providing major relief to Indian exporters. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Trump through a social media post, expressing gratitude on behalf of India’s 1.4 billion people and highlighting that cooperation between the world’s largest democracies creates mutual economic benefits and new opportunities. Trump also claimed that India has agreed to reduce oil purchases from Russia and instead buy more oil from Venezuela, though reactions and confirmations on this claim are awaited. Economic experts have termed the tariff reduction a historic and strategic move, noting that even a 1% tariff impacts billions of dollars in exports and thousands of jobs. Overall, the agreement is being seen as a major boost for India’s economy and bilateral trade ties.


