US touts strong Trump-Modi ties, seeks lower trade barriers

Even while touting the close relationship that President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoy, the US State Department has stressed that India needs to “make greater efforts to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers” to improve trade relations between the two countries.

“President Trump certainly has a strong relationship with Prime Minister Modi,” State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said while replying to a reporter’s question. “I know that his daughter (Ivanka) really enjoyed having been over in Hyderabad late last year, and so it’s an important relationship, an increasingly important relationship,” Nauert said.

At the same time, the Trump administration has signalled that it would continue to push for India lowering its trade barriers.

 “It is important that India make greater efforts to lower tariff and non-tariff barriers, which will lower prices to consumers, promote the development of value chains in India, and contribute to India’s objective to become a global competitor across a variety of sectors,” the department spokesperson said.

 President seeks to promote fair and reciprocal trade with all our trading partners, including India,” the official said in response to a question, adding: “We will continue to work to resolve the issues that are preventing the US-India economic relationship from reaching its full potential.”