Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that US President Donald Trump’s threat to hike tariffs on Brics nations is not a concern for India, exuding confidence that the two countries will remain partners forever.
Speaking to India Today TV, Goyal said that Narendra Modi and Donald Trump share a very strong bond of friendship and with the Prime Minister’s upcoming US trip, bilateral relations between the two countries will get better.
“The current round of tariffs is not targeted against India. Under Prime Minister Modi, this is the fourth US administration he has worked with — the Obama administration, the first Trump administration, the Biden administration, and now the second Trump administration. Every subsequent engagement has only strengthened the strategic and comprehensive partnership between our two countries,” the Union Minister said.
“President Trump and PM Modi share a very strong bond of friendship. They are the two leaders who trust each other, and I am very confident that post the visit of Prime Minister Modi to the United States, things will only get better and better,” he added.
Shedding light on trade relations between the two countries, Goyal reaffirmed New Delhi’s openness to expanding its commercial ties with America, stressing that mutual benefit is at the heart of India’s foreign policy.
“India is open to expanding trade with the United States. Mutual benefit is our credo. It has to be a win-win situation for both countries. India and the United States, the world’s largest and oldest democracies, will remain partners for today and forever, working together for the benefit of the people of both nations,” he said.
Furthermore, the senior BJP leader also pointed out that while the US is keen on encouraging global companies, including Indian firms, to manufacture within its borders, the ‘Make in India’ initiative complements these efforts.
“Now you are dealing with a very different American President, who is instead insisting that Indian companies and global firms come and ‘Make in America’ and ‘Make America Great Again’. You’ve got ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make in America’ both playing out at the same time. The ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make in America’ actually complement each other,” Goyal added.