U.S. President Donald Trump called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “tough negotiator” following their meeting at the 2026 G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. The Trump-Modi G7 meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, focused on U.S.-India trade negotiations, bilateral relations and the safety of Indian seafarers operating near the Strait of Hormuz. Trump-Modi G7 Meeting Focuses on Trade Speaking to reporters after the bilateral discuss

At the G7 summit in Evian, India placed maritime safety and the protection of seafarers at the center of global discussions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns over rising risks faced by commercial shipping crews, particularly those operating through sensitive international sea lanes. He emphasized that disruptions at sea are no longer isolated incidents but a growing threat to global trade stability and human safety.

US Intelligence Flags Iran’s Strategic Leverage in Strait of Hormuz US intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran has gained significant leverage over the Strait of Hormuz following the recent conflict involving the United States and Israel, according to reports citing multiple sources. The assessment suggests that Tehran now holds the capability to disrupt or restrict movement through one of the world??

India-Canada Relations Strengthen at G7 Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held detailed bilateral talks in Evian on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, focusing on strengthening cooperation across trade, energy, technology, education and defence. The meeting marked another step in improving ties between the two countries, with both leaders reviewing ongoing progress in

US-India Trade Deal Nears Final Stage The United States and India are approaching the final phase of a long-anticipated trade agreement, with officials indicating that negotiations are now in their “last mile” and could conclude within weeks. The development comes just ahead of a high-profile bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 s

India-US bilateral trade agreement talks will resume in India on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, and continue through Wednesday, June 24, 2026, as officials seek to complete the first phase of a proposed trade pact. A delegation from the Office of the United States Trade Representative is scheduled to meet Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and other Indian officials. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the two sides expect to give final touches to the first tranche while contin

The G7 summit 2026 opened in Évian-les-Bains, France, with leaders gathering for discussions on global economic pressure, trade stability, artificial intelligence, energy security, climate action and geopolitical tensions. India’s participation has drawn major attention as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to present New Delhi’s priorities before some of the world’s most influential economies. Although India is not a G7 membe

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bratislava on a landmark visit to Slovakia, becoming the first Indian prime minister to travel to the country since it became independent in 1993. The visit is part of his three-nation European tour and comes at a time when India is working to deepen its political, economic and technology partnerships across Europe. During his two-day stay, Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Slovak Pre

India and Russia are preparing to host the first INNOPROM International Industrial Technology Exhibition in India, marking a fresh push in their expanding economic and industrial partnership. The event is scheduled to take place from September 9 to 11 at Bharat Mandapam Exhibition and Convention Centre in New Delhi, bringing together manufacturers, investors, technology companies, industrial buyers and government representatives. The exhib

Treasury Refunds $22 Billion in Customs Duties The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Wednesday, June 10,2026 that it refunded $22 billion in customs duties during May, marking the first major round of repayments after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s global tariff programme. The amount refunded matched the customs duties collected over the same period, effectiv

India accused Pakistan at the UN Security Council of using Afghan transit access as political leverage, sharply criticizing Islamabad over trade restrictions affecting Afghan businesses and military strikes that India said caused civilian suffering. Speaking at the Security Council, India’s Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said Pakistan’s denial of transit access to Afghan traders amounted to “trade and transit terrorism.” He said the restrictions exploited Af

India-US Trade Talks Progress Trade negotiations between India and the United States moved closer to a potential interim agreement after four days of discussions in New Delhi. Officials from both sides described the talks as constructive, reflecting a shared commitment to deepening trade ties. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) led the American delegation, advancing discussions on t

Strengthening India-Venezuela Relations Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting with Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez in New Delhi on Thursday. The meeting took place at Hyderabad House, where both leaders discussed the full spectrum of India-Venezuela relations. Key focus areas included energy security, trade and investment, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, transportation, and renewabl

South Africa’s Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile said India remains a reliable partner as he pushed for deeper India-South Africa trade ties during a working visit to New Delhi. Mashatile used the New Delhi leg of his six-day visit to invite Indian companies to expand investment in South Africa, especially in clean energy, pharmaceuticals, ICT, automotive components, infrastructure, agriculture and agro-processing. Mashatile seeks stronger India-South

India-Oman trade pact opens new route to Gulf beyond Hormuz 01-06-2026: The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has come into effect at a crucial time, giving India a stronger trade and energy link with the Gulf when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is facing serious disruption. The pact, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Muscat last year, gives Indian exporters wider duty-free access to the Omani market and streng

Carney Calls For New Partnership Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for a new partnership with the United States during a speech in New York on Thursday, saying closer cooperation could help strengthen both countries. Carney said the global economy is going through a major rupture as the United States changes its commercial relationships, but argued that Canada and the US could still work together in key sectors such as aluminum, automobiles and critical minerals. His remarks came as trade tensions between the two neighbors continue to shape diplomatic and economic discussions. Trade Tensions Shape Message Carney has pledged to double Canadian exports to markets outside the United States over the next decade, while also signing more than 20 economic and security agreements in the past year. At the same time, US trade officials were in Mexico City for discussions on overhauling the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, though Canada was not part of the current round of talks. The exclusion adds pressure to Ottawa as it tries to protect its position in North American trade while reducing dependence on the US market. Canada Looks To Diversify The prime minister has previously described Canada’s close ties with the United States as vulnerabilities that must be corrected, especially after President Donald Trump threatened to annex Canada as the 51st state. Carney also criticized what he called American hegemony earlier this year, warning that deeper integration with major powers can create weaknesses that may be exploited. His government has moved to diversify partnerships, including a recent decision to buy military planes from Sweden instead of relying only on American manufacturers. In New York, however, Carney adopted a more conciliatory tone. He described the United States as dynamic, resilient and inventive, and said its founding values of liberty, democracy, justice and openness should continue to guide its future and the world. The message reflected a careful balancing act: Canada wants to reduce economic risk and expand global exports, but it also recognizes that cooperation with Washington on trade, security, autos, aluminum and critical minerals remains central to its long-term strategy.

US Pushes Tariffs Into Mexico Trade Talks The United States expects tariffs to be part of trade negotiations with Mexico this week as Washington prepares for talks tied to the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said President Donald Trump remains concerned about the trade deficit with Mexico and indicated that tariffs are likely to remain a tool in the administration’s broader trade strategy, even with close regional partners. Rules Of Origin Face Fresh Scrutiny Greer said officials are expected to discuss changes to USMCA rules of origin, including requirements that could increase the share of American-made content in goods produced across North America. The issue is especially important for manufacturing and supply chains, as the United States seeks to reduce dependence on Asia and bring more production closer to home. Greer said Mexico has benefited from American efforts to diversify away from China, but Washington wants a more balanced distribution of production. Mexico Talks Seen As Productive The United States views Mexico as a major part of its regional supply chain strategy because it competes with Asian economies for access to the US market. Greer said the administration wants supply chains sourced from the Western Hemisphere wherever possible, pointing to pandemic-era disruptions that limited access to goods from Asia. The goal, he said, is to strengthen North American manufacturing while reducing the deficit with Mexico. Canada Negotiations Look More Difficult Trade talks with Canada appear more complicated. Greer said the United States has significant trade challenges with Canada and noted that Ottawa’s response to tariffs has differed from that of many other partners. Canada has argued that USMCA remains a strong agreement and does not require major renegotiation. The disagreement sets up a difficult review process as Washington seeks tariff-related changes while Canada pushes to preserve the existing framework.

India-US relations have become stronger and more important, but External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has made it clear that the partnership is not without challenges. His message is simple: India and America may have differences on trade, energy, diplomacy and global issues, but both countries must handle them maturely and keep the relationship moving forward. He sees the relationship as a serious strategic partnership based on shared interests, not as a one-sided friendship or dependence.

Trump Praises PM Modi, Strengthens US-India Ties US President Donald Trump expressed strong admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a personal friend and praising the deepening partnership between the United States and India. Speaking at an official event, Trump highlighted the robust economic performance of the US and reaffirmed India’s reliability as a strategic partner. “We’ve never been closer to

India-Canada Trade Talks Gain Momentum In May 2026 Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is set to visit Canada from May 25 to May 27, 2026, as India and Canada work to rebuild economic confidence and push bilateral trade toward a $50 billion target by 2030. The visit comes at an important time because both countries are trying to move beyond recent diplomatic strain and focus on business, investment, energy, and technology cooperation. Goyal w