Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, claiming "significant progress" in a long-awaited trade deal. India's Foreign Ministry stated that the leaders noted progress in negotiations towards an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement and instructed officials to work towards a balanced, mutually beneficial deal as soon as possible.

However, a final deal remains elusive. Trump's 50% tariffs on Indian goods, US demands for access to India's farm sector, strained diplomatic ties, and fresh tariff threats have delayed the agreement. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is set to visit India next week.

During the meeting, Modi urged G7 nations and financial institutions to aid the Global South's recovery from the Middle East conflict. "Disruptions to fuel, fertilizer, and food supply chains caused by the crisis in West Asia will continue to have a significant impact on the Global South," he said. He called for support mechanisms to help developing countries absorb such shocks.

Trump described Modi as "a very tough negotiator" and "a killer," but relations between the two countries have cooled. The US Navy attacked vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, killing three Indian sailors, prompting a strong protest from India's foreign minister.

Domestically, India is preparing for the retest of the NEET-UG medical entrance exams after the original test was canceled in May due to a paper leak. The leak led to student suicides, a youth movement demanding the education minister's resignation, and a temporary ban on Telegram. The retest will test India's ability to conduct large-scale exams securely.

Source: www.dw.com