Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump have discussed the contentious issue of the US’ trade deficit with India and increasing their cooperation in war-torn Afghanistan during a telephonic conversation. During the conversation on Monday evening, the two leaders exchanged new year greetings and expressed satisfaction at the continued growth of the India-US strategic partnership in 2018. “The leaders agreed to strengthen the US-India strategic partnership in 2019 and exchanged perspectives on how to reduce the US trade deficit with India,” the White House said in a readout of the call. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the US’ goods and services trade with India totalled an estimated $ 126.2 billion in 2017. Exports were $ 49.4 billion; imports were $ 76.7 billion. The US goods and services trade deficit with India was $ 27.3 billion in 2017. They also agreed to expand security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, and increase cooperation in Afghanistan, according to the White House.
NDTV
