US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Diwali, discussing trade ties and regional stability, including the situation with Pakistan.
At a Diwali event at the White House, Trump said, “I just spoke to your Prime Minister today. We had a great conversation about trade, he’s very focused on that. We also talked about keeping peace with Pakistan. India and Pakistan are not at war, which is a very good thing.” He described Modi as “a great person” and “a good friend” he has known for years.
Trade and Tariffs
Trump also addressed ongoing trade tensions, noting that the United States has imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods due to New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. This brings total US import taxes on India this year to around 50%. He said that trade talks between the two countries are continuing.
Referring to tariffs on China, Trump said, “Starting November 1, China will face about 155% tariffs. That’s not sustainable for them. I’d like to be fair to China, but they’ve taken advantage of the US for years because we had leaders who didn’t understand business.”
On the Middle East
Trump also spoke about the Middle East, claiming that several countries have joined peace initiatives under his leadership. “We’re bringing peace across the world,” he said. “The Hamas situation could be handled in two minutes if needed, but we’re giving them a chance. If they don’t keep their word, they’ll be dealt with quickly.”
He added that relations among former regional rivals have improved dramatically, saying, “Countries that once hated each other now have friendly ties. Nobody thought this kind of peace was possible.”
