Is PM Modi a tough negotiator? This is what US President Trump has to say

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet in the Oval Office at the White House on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. AFP

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a “much tougher negotiator” than him following discussions on a possible trade deal and tariffs with India.

"He (PM Narendra Modi) is a much tougher negotiator than me and he is a much better negotiator than me. There is not even a contest," Trump said.

The two leaders made brief statements to the media and answered a number of questions before settling down for the crucial talks, hours after the American President announced a new reciprocal tariff policy for all the trading partners of the US.

Trump, meanwhile, announced that US and India will soon have a trade deal.

"We are going to work with India also. We have separate big trade deals to announce in the very near future," Trump said while talking about his administration's trade policy.

"We are going to make some wonderful trade deals for India and for the US," he said replying to a question.

The American President also called out India for being a "hard place" to do business.

“India is a very hard place to do business because of the tariffs. They have the highest tariffs, just about in the world, and it's a hard place to do business... No, I would imagine he (Musk) met possibly because, you know, he's running a company," Trump said.

With agency inputs