Modi-Trump Push Sets Stage for $500B Trade Target by 2030 With New Defense and Technology Deals

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump have stepped in directly to move the India-US trade deal forward. After months of tension over tariffs and oil imports, both leaders now show clear intent to restart talks and reach a quick outcome.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that negotiations are back on track. He said he will soon speak with his “very good friend” Modi and felt sure that there would be “no difficulty” in closing the deal. Modi responded within hours on X, calling the US a “natural partner” and saying the talks will “unlock the limitless potential” of their collaboration. He added that teams on both sides are working hard to finish discussions soon.

Delegations to Meet in Washington and New Delhi

India will send a delegation next week to Washington. The group, led by chief trade negotiator Rajesh Agarwal, will sit with US officials to clear key issues. In return, an American team will visit India later this month. They will discuss pricing for six P-8I surveillance aircraft worth nearly $3 billion and finalise the purchase of 113 GE-404 jet engines for India’s Tejas fighter jets.

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This fresh push comes after months of sharp disagreements. Earlier this year, Trump raised tariffs on Indian exports to 50 %, blaming New Delhi’s oil trade with Russia. That step created friction and raised concerns for India’s economy. Now, both leaders are working to leave those disputes behind.

Partnership Beyond Trade

The new energy level that has emerged is also significant for achieving wider cooperation. India and the United States stand as Quad partners ,and stronger trade ties imply support for all ambitions in the defense, supply-chain, and technology fronts. By intervening directly, Modi and Trump have indicated that the larger partnership is of greater importance than smaller issues.

India and the United States remain key partners in the Quad framework and global supply-chain resilience. The Modi-Trump interaction may also ease political distractions ahead of the upcoming Quad Summit.

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Both sides have set a target to double trade to $500 billion by 2030. Officials in New Delhi say an early deal could even come before the end of this fall. The commitment from the top leadership shows that both countries want quick progress and a balanced outcome.

The trade talks are now firmly back on track. With delegations preparing to meet in the coming days, chances of an agreement look brighter than at any point in recent months. Modi and Trump’s direct involvement has lifted the talks above the  noise and opened a new chapter for the India-US partnership.