India's Modi, Trump likely to meet at G7, discuss trade, visas, source says

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of 7 summit, with ​trade, visas and energy cooperation set to be high on the agenda, an ‌Indian government source said.

The June 15 to 17 summit, in the French town of Evian-les-Bains, will bring together leaders from the world’s major economies, including Trump, alongside other high-level delegations from countries including India.

Modi is set ​to start his five-day visit from June 13 and will travel to Slovakia after attending ​the G7 meeting.

“The prime minister is expected to hold talks on the ⁠trade ties, energy cooperation, and also take up the issue of H-1B visas,” the source ​with direct knowledge of the matter said.

A meeting between the two leaders would come at a ​delicate moment in ties between New Delhi and Washington, which have been strained by U.S. tariffs on Indian goods and Trump’s repeated assertions - which India denies - that he intervened to end India’s brief conflict last year with ​Pakistan.

Recent high-level engagement, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India last month, has ​helped ease some of the tension, with the two sides discussing trade, visas, maritime security, energy supplies and ‌the ⁠Middle East.

Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington are moving towards the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement which could be concluded by mid-July, India’s Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said last week.

India is pushing for preferential tariff treatment from the United States as part of negotiations on ​an interim trade deal.

Washington ​has also proposed an ⁠additional 12.5% tariff on imports from India and several other countries, alleging the use of forced labour - which India has rejected.

“The talks on the ​additional tariff have not concluded yet and we are hopeful that ​we will ⁠get competitive rates,” a second Indian government source said.

India’s foreign ministry and the U.S. embassy in India did not respond to requests for comment.

The tightening of requirements for H-1B visas is also set ⁠to feature ​in the likely Modi-Trump discussion, given its implications for ​thousands of Indians working in the United States, the first source said.

The source added that Modi and Trump may also ​discuss potential energy cooperation involving the United States and Venezuela.