Trade negotiations between India and the United States are set to gain momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held wide-ranging talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. Seeking to advance discussions on the trade pact, the two leaders directed officials to work towards concluding a balanced, mutually beneficial and commercially meaningful agreement at the earliest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.The direction came during a meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France, on June 17. The talks marked the first meeting between Modi and Trump in 16 months and formed part of efforts by both countries to further strengthen bilateral engagement.In a press release, the MEA said, “The leaders noted with particular satisfaction the significant progress made in negotiations towards an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement and instructed their officials to work towards a balanced, mutually beneficial, and commercially meaningful agreement at the earliest.”As part of the process, US trade representative Jamieson Greer will visit India next week to take forward discussions on the proposed agreement.During the meeting, PM Modi and Trump reviewed progress under the India–US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology), launched following their meeting in Washington DC in February 2025.According to the MEA, the two leaders welcomed developments across defence, strategic technologies, energy and bilateral trade sectors.“The two leaders reviewed the substantial progress achieved under the India–US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) since their meeting in Washington D.C. in February 2025,” the ministry said.“They welcomed key developments across the defence, strategic technologies, energy, and bilateral trade sectors,” it added.The COMPACT initiative is aimed at driving transformative change across key areas of cooperation between the two countries.The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.“Prime Minister Modi and President Trump reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and advancing cooperation across all domains for the mutual benefit of the two countries and their peoples,” the MEA said.The discussions also covered developments in the Middle East.According to the MEA, Prime Minister Modi commended President Trump for efforts that had contributed to an understanding aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and restoring peace and stability in the wider region.“Prime Minister Modi commended President Trump for his efforts that had resulted in an understanding to end the ongoing conflict in West Asia and restore peace and stability across the broader region,” the ministry said.The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, while stressing the need to ensure the safety of seafarers.The meeting took place amid growing outrage in India over the deaths of three Indian crew members aboard a merchant vessel in American military strikes in the Gulf of Oman.
