'Trump, PM Modi speak frequently': White House says trade teams in 'serious discussions'

The White House on Tuesday said US President Donald Trump speaks often with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and trade teams from both countries continue 'serious discussions", according to Reuters.

"The president and his trade team continue to be in very serious discussions with India," White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Leavitt added, "... The President is positive and feels very strongly about the India-US relationship. A few weeks ago, he spoke to the Prime Minister directly when he celebrated Diwali in the Oval Office with many high-ranking Indian-American officials here at the White House. We have a great US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor. The President and his trade team continue to be in very serious discussions with India with respect to that topic. I know the President has great respect for Prime Minister Modi and they speak pretty frequently."

Trump said last week in South Korea that he wanted to reach a trade deal with India. He claimed India had reduced its purchase of Russian oil, describing New Delhi as "very good", signaling a thaw in relations that soured to their lowest point in decades after the US president doubled tariffs on Indian imports to 50 percent over India's purchases of Russian oil.