US President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed confidence that Washington and New Delhi would conclude a trade agreement while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a close friend amid ongoing negotiations between the two countries. 

Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said he expected the two sides to reach a deal despite longstanding concerns over India's tariff regime. “We will get to a deal because I like your prime minister a lot. He is a good friend of mine. We get along great, and we are gonna make a deal,” Trump said. 

The remarks came as India and the US continue discussions on an interim bilateral trade agreement aimed at strengthening economic ties and expanding market access. 

At the same time, Trump reiterated his criticism of India's tariff policies, saying New Delhi had benefited from previous US trade policies. 

"For years, India took advantage of the United States... They charged us tremendous tariffs and paid nothing... Now it is the exact reverse, and we are making a lot of money with India,” Trump said. 

A US delegation concluded four days of trade negotiations in India on Thursday as both sides worked to bridge differences and advance the proposed agreement. 

India's commerce ministry said the discussions were held in a spirit of cooperation and pragmatism, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to concluding a mutually beneficial deal. 

According to the ministry, the negotiations focused on strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations, with both sides seeking to make progress on key outstanding issues under the proposed interim pact. 

Section 301 deadline adds urgency to talks 

Meanwhile, the Section 301 investigations, launched by the US in March, have emerged as a major pressure point in India-US trade negotiations, with Washington proposing additional tariffs of up to 12.5% and a critical July 24 deadline looming for both sides to reach a deal. 

However, Washington has indicated that if India and the US conclude their trade agreement before July 24, India could potentially avoid further tariff escalation under the Section 301 process. This deadline has therefore become a key driver of the current negotiations. 

The trade talks assume significance as India and the US seek to deepen commercial engagement and address market access concerns while expanding strategic economic cooperation.