New Delhi:
United States President Donald Trump is likely to announce limited trade deals with India during the 'Howdy Modi' event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston on Sunday. According to a report published in the New York Times, Trump administration is drafting "minideals" which, unlike traditional trade pacts, will be confined to a few sectors or products.
The White House had Monday announced that President Trump will join PM Modi at the 'Howdy Modi' event on September 22 in a "special gesture". This will be the first time Modi and Trump would share a stage together and third meeting between the two leaders in the last three months.
"Could be. I have a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi," Trump told reporters on Wednesday when asked whether he would make any announcement during his Houston rally with PM Modi.
With Trump at the helm, United States' has waged a trade war with several countries including China and India. While the issues with China are more complex, Trump has been complaining the higher tariffs imposed by New Delhi on American products.
Earlier in June this year, Trump administration had revoked India's status of beneficiary developing country under the Generalised System of Preferences program. In retaliation, India also levied more tariffs on as many as 28 US products including almonds and apples.
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The likely announcement of limited deals with India comes as the Trump administration has nothing big in its kitty to showcase as far as trade is concerned and with elections next year, it now wants to score some wins amid the continued trade war with China. Bilateral trade deals in America’s favor were among Trump's mamny polls promises.
The Ney York Times reports stated that Trump "administration is also pressing India to provide more access for farmers to sell products like pork, and to reduce tariffs on electronics.
More than 50,000 thousnad people have already enroleld to attend the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston. President Trump, speaking about the much talked-about event, said that the crowd has become even bigger since his announcement to join in the Indian prime minister.
"He (Modi) has got a big crowd coming and I guess the crowd just got a lot bigger because they just announced he asked, would I go, and I will go," Trump said.
