Indias Modi brings a tariff gift to Trump talks

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come bearing gifts when he meets Donald Trump on Thursday, hoping concessions on tariffs, fresh business deals and the prospect of cooperation on China will win the US president’s favor.Trump, not yet one month into his presidency, has wielded the threat of tariffs against friend and foe alike to try to extract new trade deals, investment or law enforcement help.India may not be an exception: Although Trump had a warm relationship with Modi in his first term, he has called India a “very big abuser” on trade and his levies on steel and aluminum hit India particularly hard.Ahead of his White House meeting on Thursday, Modi has readied promises including increased liquefied natural gas, combat vehicle and jet engine purchases, according to Indian government officials who declined to be named.Indian officials are also looking at trade negotiations, possible deals on US agriculture exports to India and investment in nuclear energy, along with tariff cuts in at least a dozen sectors, including electronics, medical and surgical equipment, and chemicals.Those are areas Trump’s team believes India needs to make improvements, according to another person familiar with their thinking.It’s a “gift” for Trump, said one of the sources, who declined to be named as they previewed a private meeting.For his part, Modi wants help with the case of billionaire Gautam Adani, an ally of his who was indicted by the Justice Department in November over an alleged bribery scheme.Adani denies wrongdoing.Another thorny issue will be in the background: the alleged Indian intelligence plot to assassinate a Sikh activist in the United States during the administration of Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden.This time, the tariff issue will be front and center, said Richard Rossow, head of the India program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.“It’s going to be a boxing match,” he said....