Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Friday (local time) that representatives from Pakistan would visit America next week to seek a deal on tariffs. Trump also added that the US was “very close to making a deal with India.”
He made this statement while addressing reporters at Joint Base Andrews. Trump said he would not be willing to strike any trade deal with India or Pakistan if the neighbours engage in military action.
“Pakistan representatives are coming in next week. We’re very close to making a deal with India. And I wouldn’t have any interest in making a deal with either if they were going to be at war with each other…” he told reporters.
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, “Pakistan representatives are coming in next week. We’re very close to making a deal with India. And I wouldn’t have any interest in making a deal with either if they were going to be at war with each other…”
(Source: US Network Pool… https://t.co/DO7Dh6YOd7 pic.twitter.com/5Cmwg5LAdh
— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2025
This caution comes at a time when tension between the neighbours had escalated following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Earlier this month, India and Pakistan exchanged missiles, artillery fire, and drones and launched fighter jets.
According to reports, Islamabad had been trying to avoid steep US tariffs. Pakistan may face a 29% tariff on exports to the US after the latter announced new duties last month targeting several countries.
“We stopped war through trade”
The US President also claimed that he stopped a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan with the help of trade and not through bullets.
“I think the deal I’m most proud of is the fact that we’re dealing with India, we’re dealing with Pakistan, and we were able to stop potentially a nuclear war through trade as opposed through bullets. You know, normally they do it through bullets. We do it through trade. So I’m very proud of that. Nobody talks about it. But we had a very nasty potential war going on between Pakistan and India. And now, if you look, they’re doing fine,” he said.
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, “I think the deal I’m most proud of is the fact that we’re dealing with India, we’re dealing with Pakistan, and we were able to stop potentially a nuclear war through trade as opposed through bullets. You know, normally they do it through… pic.twitter.com/63wkY2O054
— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2025
India-US ties at ‘historic zenith’
The India-US relationship is at a “historic zenith.” It represents a key partnership in the 21st century. This was mentioned by the US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau after he met Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri in Washington on Wednesday.
Landau said they had a “great lunch” and discussed “the importance of expanding fair and reciprocal trade, combating illegal immigration, and expanding counternarcotics cooperation.” Misri visited the United States from May 27 to 29.
Union trade minister Piyush Goyal had visited the US recently to push forward trade negotiations. Both countries are expecting to sign a limited trade deal by early July. India currently faces a 26% tariff on its exports to America.
India may soon allow American companies to compete for over $50 billion in contracts, mostly from federal agencies, as part of the talks, Reuters reported last week.
