India's relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations is evolving into a major trade partnership. In 2024-25, the bilateral trade between India and the six-nation bloc reached a substantial $179 billion, driven by strong exports such as gems, metals, electronics, and chemicals. With an existing free trade pact with the UAE since 2022, and a recent agreement with Oman, India is now focused on formalizing a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with the GCC. This new agreement

US President Donald Trump held an extended telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, engaging in wide-ranging discussions that touched on trade ties, energy cooperation, agricultural purchases, and several pressing geopolitical concerns, according to remarks shared by the American leader. Posting about the exchange on his social media platform, Trump described the dialogue as “excellent,” emphasizing that the call was both lengthy and substantive. He

US President Donald Trump indicated that his administration is prepared to examine new tariffs on a range of agricultural imports, including Canadian fertiliser and Indian rice, after American farmers raised concerns that low-priced foreign goods were eroding their competitiveness. The comments came during a roundtable discussion at the White House, where the President unveiled a $12 billion support package intended to cushion farmers from mounting price pressures and market volatility. Througho

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is positioned to advance crucial trade negotiations with the United States after securing a decisive electoral victory in Bihar, a development that analysts say could provide New Delhi with the political space needed to offer farm-related concessions long sought by Washington. The National Democratic Alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, appeared headed for an overwhelming win as early trends from the Election Commission showed the coalition leadi

The White House has confirmed that United States President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi continue to engage in regular communication, with trade officials from both countries involved in what have been described as “very serious discussions.” The statement comes amid rising diplomatic and economic tensions between the two nations following Washington’s recent decision to impose a 50 percent tariff on select Indian imports, a move that has strained one of the world

In a major development for global trade, China has announced that it will suspend an additional 24 percent tariff on United States goods for a period of one year, while maintaining a 10 percent levy on imports from the US. The announcement, made by the State Council Tariff Commission, signals a cautious step by Beijing toward easing long-standing trade tensions with Washington. The suspension is effective immediately and will remain in place for twelve months. The decision follows a

Pakistan has offered Bangladesh the use of its Karachi port for exporting jute and other goods, marking a significant geopolitical move amid deteriorating India-Bangladesh relations. The offer comes shortly after India banned the import of jute products through land routes, a major blow to Bangladesh’s export sector. The development was formalized during the Pakistan-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting in Dhaka, held after a gap of nearly 20 years, signaling a thaw in relatio

US President Donald Trump received a royal welcome in Japan on Monday, marking the beginning of a major diplomatic visit focused on strengthening relations between Washington and Tokyo. Upon his arrival in Tokyo, Trump was greeted by Japanese officials before proceeding to meet Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace. The ceremony was conducted with traditional formality, symbolizing the respect and deep ties that have defined the United States–Japan partnership for decades. Followi

US President Donald Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House on Tuesday, October 7, for a high-level bilateral discussion focusing on economic cooperation and global security challenges. The meeting underscored the two nations’ long-standing partnership while also revealing areas of disagreement over trade priorities and international conflicts. According to officials familiar with the discussions, President Trump and Prime Minister Carney covered a wi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday, just before the start of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting, held at the Lotte New York Palace, marked their first in-person engagement since the United States announced an additional twenty-five percent tariff on India in response to Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, which raised the total tariff burden to fifty percent. This face-to-face discuss

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received birthday wishes from US President Donald Trump ahead of his 75th birthday, even as India and the United States grapple with trade tensions. In a message on X, Modi thanked Trump for his greetings and reiterated his commitment to strengthening the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership. He also expressed support for Washington’s initiatives to resolve the Ukraine conflict through peaceful means.

In response to rising trade tensions, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will convene a high-level meeting on August 26, 2025, to discuss measures for Indian exporters facing the upcoming 50% tariff on goods entering the United States. This tariff increase, which comes into effect starting Wednesday, marks a significant escalation, with the US government doubling existing duties on Indian imports. Sources famil

Summary The Trump-Putin summit in Alaska ended without solving the Ukraine war. Two possible outcomes have emerged: Ukraine could become a smaller but sovereign nation with Western protection, or it could lose both land and indepen

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, 2025. This will be his first official trip to China since the Galwan clash in 2020, marking a significant step toward the normalization of bilateral ties between India and China. PM Modi's last visit to China was in 2019, though he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Ka

President Donald Trump’s authorization of military strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites has triggered strong reactions across the world. In a national address on Saturday night, Trump declared that the targeted nuclear enrichment facilities were “completely and totally obliterated,” warning that Iran must choose peace or face “far greater and a lot easier” future strikes. He called Iran “the bully of the Middle East” and framed the military acti

President Donald Trump has announced plans to double tariffs on steel imports to 50%, up from the existing 25%, as part of his administration’s effort to reinforce domestic manufacturing and ensure long-term industrial independence. Speaking to American steelworkers during a visit to a steel facility in Pennsylvania, Trump emphasized that his administration remains committed to policies that protect American jobs and prevent foreign dominance in vital sectors. Trump’s

India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri concluded a three-day visit to the United States on Thursday, where he led discussions on a broad range of strategic issues including trade, defence, and critical technologies. The visit marked a continued deepening of bilateral ties, with both nations reaffirming their shared commitment to shaping a forward-looking partnership suited for the evolving global landscape. During his visit, the foreign secretary engaged in high-level meetin

In a recent address from Morristown, New Jersey, U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his administration's commitment to using tariffs as a tool to boost domestic manufacturing, particularly in sectors such as military equipment and advanced technology. Speaking before boarding Air Force One, Trump clarified that his tariff agenda is not intended to revive traditional textile production like sneakers and T-shirts, but rather to prioritize manufacturing of tanks, artificial intelligence

The United States and China are expected to provide more clarity on the progress made during a series of marathon trade discussions held over the weekend in Geneva. These talks brought together high-level officials from both countries, and their outcomes may mark a turning point in ongoing efforts to resolve longstanding economic tensions between the two largest global economies. While full details have not yet been disclosed, early signals from both sides suggest cautious optimis

Stock futures rose sharply on Thursday following an announcement from President Donald Trump that the United States and the United Kingdom have finalized a major trade agreement. This development sparked enthusiasm across Wall Street, especially in technology stocks, and contributed to a strong premarket rally. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 303 points, a 0.7% increase, while futures on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq