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President Donald Trump has decided not to visit India for the upcoming Quad meeting later this year due to cooling relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to a report from The New York Times, relations between the two leaders have soured over Trump’s tariffs on certain Indian goods.
Newsweek reached out to both the White House and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs but received no comments by email outside of regular business hours on Saturday afternoon.
**Why It Matters**
Trump and Modi previously supported each other during their respective administrations, drawing close ties. However, this dynamic has shifted sharply due to Trump’s tariffs on India. In June, Trump discussed his role in ending border hostilities between India and Pakistan over a phone call with Modi. When Trump mentioned the idea of Modi nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, it was seen as an indication that he believed Modi should do the same. However, Modi rejected this framing, saying the two nations settled the matter directly.
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In response to these tariffs, India has given no indication that it intends to stop buying Russian oil and instead encourages economic self-reliance by promoting Indian-made products.
**The Tariff Issue**
Trump announced he would increase an initial 25% tariff on certain goods from India to 50%, citing Russia’s continued purchase of Indian oil. This move has spooked the Indian economy, putting bilateral trade between the two nations in doubt and prompting Modi to declare “India is ready” to deal with the “heavy price” of Trump’s policies.
**What To Know**
The New York Times reported that during a June phone call between Trump and Modi, the president discussed his role in ending border hostilities between India and Pakistan. However, when Trump mentioned Pakistan nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, Modi rejected this framing, saying the two nations settled the matter directly. Since then, Trump and Modi have not spoken.
Trump has ramped up tariffs against India, causing significant backlash. During a recent festival in India, attendees paraded an effigy of Trump and placed placards declaring that Washington would “end up regretting India’s strength” and that the tariffs “will only ruin their business.”
Trump is reported to have decided not to visit India for the Quad meeting later this year, where the U.S. would meet with leaders from India, Australia, and Japan.
In 2017, Trump revived the Quad after a decade of inactivity, aiming to counterbalance China’s growing interest and activity in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the South China Sea.
The White House did not acknowledge the phone call between Trump and Modi. In July, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he does not care about India’s dealings with Russia and plans to raise tariffs on Indian goods. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged citizens to purchase domestically made products and stated that his government would protect small entrepreneurs from pressure.
This shift in U.S.-India relations has significantly impacted the bilateral trade and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
