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🇸🇬 Singapore /Economy & Trade

Modi, Trump Likely to Meet at G7, Discuss Trade, Visas, Source Says

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in France.
  • Key discussion points will include trade, visas, and energy cooperation between the two nations.
  • The meeting occurs amid ongoing trade tensions, including U.S. tariffs on Indian goods and India's push for preferential tariff treatment.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the upcoming Group of 7 summit in France. The meeting, scheduled between June 15 and 17, is expected to focus on critical issues such as trade, visas, and energy cooperation.

Modi's five-day visit to France begins June 13, with India attending the G7 summit as a high-level delegation. A government source indicated that trade ties, energy cooperation, and the contentious H-1B visa issue for Indian professionals working in the U.S. would be high on the agenda. This discussion comes at a sensitive time for India-U.S. relations, which have been strained by U.S. tariffs on Indian products and Trump's past claims regarding intervention in the India-Pakistan conflict.

The prime minister is expected to hold talks on the trade ties, energy cooperation, and also take up the issue of H-1B visas.

— Indian government sourceDetailing the expected agenda for the Modi-Trump bilateral meeting at the G7 summit.

Recent diplomatic engagements, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to India, have aimed at easing some tensions. Discussions have covered trade, visas, maritime security, energy supplies, and the Middle East. India's Trade Minister Piyush Goyal recently stated that progress is being made towards a bilateral trade agreement, potentially concluding by mid-July. India is actively seeking preferential tariff treatment from the U.S. as part of these negotiations.

However, the U.S. has proposed an additional 12.5% tariff on imports from India and other countries, citing concerns over forced labor, a claim India denies. A second Indian government source expressed hope for competitive rates despite ongoing talks on the additional tariff. The tightening of H-1B visa requirements is also a significant concern for India, impacting thousands of Indian workers. Potential energy cooperation involving the U.S. and Venezuela may also be on the table.

The talks on the additional tariff have not concluded yet and we are hopeful that we will get competitive rates.

— Second Indian government sourceCommenting on the ongoing negotiations regarding U.S. tariffs on Indian goods.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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