US President Donald Trump has spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United States ambassador to India Sergio Gor confirmed on Monday, as trade tensions between the two countries continue to simmer.
“President Trump just spoke with Prime Minister Modi. Stay tuned,” Gor said in a brief post on X, without sharing any details of what was discussed during the conversation.
The call comes at a sensitive time in India-US relations, with trade negotiations facing delays after the Trump administration imposed steep tariffs on Indian exports. Since August last year, the United States has slapped a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, which includes 25 percent reciprocal duties and an additional 25 percent levy. This is among the highest tariffs imposed by the US on any country.
Tensions have further increased after Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on India over its continued purchase of Russian crude oil. India has maintained that its energy decisions are guided by national interest and global market conditions.
Adding to the uncertainty, Trump recently claimed that several countries, including India, are expected to begin importing oil from Venezuela. He said this followed legal reforms in Venezuela that opened its oil sector to private investment after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro on January 3. Venezuela is known to hold the world’s largest crude oil reserves.
India and the United States have been engaged in trade talks since March 2025, but progress has been slow amid differences over tariffs, energy purchases and market access.
While officials on both sides have not commented on the substance of the Trump-Modi call, the timing has drawn attention, with observers watching closely for any signal of a breakthrough or shift in the stalled India-US trade deal.
