PM Modi, Donald Trump set for bilateral meeting at G7 Summit amid India-US trade negotiations
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France, in a development that could provide fresh momentum to ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries.
The meeting will mark the first formal in-person engagement between the two leaders since their talks at the White House in February 2025 and comes at a crucial juncture for India-US economic relations. Earlier on Tuesday, Modi and Trump were seen exchanging greetings and holding a brief conversation as world leaders gathered for the summit.
“Reached Evian, France, for the G7 Summit. Looking forward to engaging with world leaders and exchanging views on key global issues,” Modi said in a post on X after arriving in France.
Interim trade agreement in focus
Trade is expected to be among the key issues on the agenda as India and the United States continue discussions aimed at finalising an interim trade agreement.
The proposed arrangement assumes significance amid efforts by both countries to strengthen commercial ties and resolve outstanding market-access issues. Bilateral trade between India and the US has expanded steadily in recent years, making Washington one of New Delhi’s largest trading partners.
The two sides have also been working to enhance cooperation across manufacturing, technology, energy and critical supply chains. Industry stakeholders have been closely tracking the negotiations, viewing a potential agreement as a step towards greater economic integration between the two economies.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is expected to visit India later this month, signalling continued engagement between the two governments on trade-related matters.
Economic cooperation gains momentum
Beyond trade, the Modi-Trump meeting is expected to review progress in broader economic and strategic partnerships, including investments, advanced technologies and supply-chain resilience.
The interaction follows recent diplomatic engagements between senior officials of both countries aimed at reinforcing bilateral ties. During his visit to India last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described India as the “cornerstone” of Washington’s approach towards the Indo-Pacific and conveyed President Trump’s invitation to Modi to visit the White House in the near future.
G7 platform for global economic dialogue
Modi is attending the G7 Outreach Session, where leaders are discussing key global economic challenges, trade flows, energy security and growth prospects.
Apart from his scheduled interaction with Trump, the Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the sidelines of the summit as India seeks to strengthen economic partnerships and expand its role in shaping global growth and investment discussions.