US President Donald Trump has called new Indian tariffs on US products “unacceptable” and demanded that they be withdrawn.
India imposed retaliatory tariffs on 28 US products earlier in June, after the US announced it was withdrawing India’s preferential trade treatment.
Mr Trump’s criticism came a day after the two sides had downplayed tensions.
He is due to meet Mr Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit, which begins on 28 June in Osaka, Japan.
Shortly before leaving for Japan, the US president told reporters on the White House lawn that he would be meeting leaders from different countries, “many of whom have been taking advantage of the United States – but not anymore”.
Mr Trump’s tweet appeared to contradict a joint statement made by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday.
It said that “even great friends had differences,” in what was seen as an attempt to downplay tensions.
US-India bilateral trade was worth $142bn (£111bn) in 2018, a sevenfold increase since 2001, according to US figures.
BBC
