Bloomberg News website reported on May 19th with the title "Modi may be cornered by the White House on trade issues". The report pointed out that US President Trump claimed that among all the reasons preventing a full-scale war between New Delhi and Islamabad, trade was a "key factor". This statement gave Indian opposition politicians more "ammunition". Even before the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" were implemented, Modi's political rivals questioned why the White House sought to punish a country that successive US administrations had been cultivating. Now they wonder why Prime Minister Modi allowed Trump to place economic interests above national security priorities.
The report said that Indian officials denied the connection between US-India trade and the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, but this did not stop the US President from repeatedly mentioning it. During his visit to Saudi Arabia, he further vividly described how he mediated the ceasefire: "I largely used trade as a means. I said, 'Come on guys, let's make a deal. Let's not exchange nuclear bombs, but instead exchange the exquisite things you produce'."
The report stated that Trump is getting involved in New Delhi's sensitive economic field. Apple plans to import most of the iPhones sold in the US market from India by the end of 2026, but Trump seems unwilling to make such concessions. Last week, he told Apple CEO Cook in Qatar: "I don't want you to build factories in India."
It was reported that Indian negotiators are discussing a bilateral agreement in the United States. Modi needs to quickly reach an agreement while protecting his vulnerable farmers from American agricultural products. The US is well aware of this.
The report said that to send a signal that they will not easily give in, New Delhi told the WTO that India retains the right to retaliate against US steel and aluminum tariffs implemented on March 12th. However, the negotiation advantage still lies with Washington, especially since Trump linked trade with the ceasefire and declared that India proposed to completely eliminate tariffs on American goods. (Translated by Lu Di)
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