Trump announced that India proposed slashing tariffs on American merchandise to nil.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited China for the first time in seven years, attending a summit of more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). During his visit, Modi discussed ways to improve trade with China, a conversation that took place amidst ongoing US tariff tensions.

The US tariff offensive, led by former President Donald Trump, has been a significant factor in the trade relationship between India and the US. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, criticised India for not reducing tariffs years ago. However, it's worth noting that no immediate response was received from the Indian Embassy in Washington regarding this comment.

Despite the US tariff threats, India's trade minister has stated that India will not 'bow down' in response to US tariffs. This stance was evident during Modi's visit to China, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that their countries are development partners, not rivals.

The SCO summit provided an opportunity for Beijing to mend ties with New Delhi, and the two leaders were seen standing shoulder-to-shoulder, laughing and surrounded by interpreters. In a symbolic gesture, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Modi were also seen holding hands and walking jovially toward Xi before the summit opened, symbolizing solidarity.

The US-India relationship has strengthened in recent years, particularly during Trump's first term, due to shared concerns about China's growing power. However, Trump's remarks about India's tariffs and his threat of tariffs on India after it refused to stop buying Russian oil in defiance of his efforts to end Moscow's war in Ukraine, have cast a shadow over this relationship.

It's important to clarify that the announcement that India will reduce its tariffs on US goods to zero was not made by India itself in the provided sources. Instead, the sources focus on US tariff policies under President Donald Trump and EU-US trade discussions, but do not state that India declared a zero-tariff plan on US goods.

The implementation of total duties as high as 50% on Indian goods in the US has raised questions about the future of the US-India relationship. The US State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the meetings in China.

In conclusion, Modi's visit to China for the SCO summit marked a significant moment in the evolving relationship between India and China, as well as the complex web of international trade tensions. The future of the US-India relationship, particularly in the context of US tariff policies, remains uncertain.

Trump announced that India proposed slashing tariffs on American merchandise to nil.