Did PM Modi, President Xi Discuss Trump Tariffs During Bilateral Talks? MEA Responds

Last Updated:August 31, 2025, 21:14 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping discussed global economic challenges and ways to strengthen India China trade ties in Tianjin, amid US tariffs and WTO concerns.

PM Modi with Xi Jinping | Image: PMO

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the global economic situation and acknowledged the challenges arising from it during bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Sunday.

While addressing a press conference in Tianjin detailing PM Modi’s visit to the neighbouring country, Mirsi was asked if the two leaders discussed the implications of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs during their bilateral engagements.

In response, Misri said that the two leaders were mindful of international developments, however, the focus of their talks remained on the bilateral front. He said that PM Modi and President Jinping discussed how to advance the economic and commercial relationship between India and China in the midst of these evolving challenges

“The focus of the discussion remained in the bilateral domain. Of course, they recognise what’s happening on the international plane and the challenges it creates, but they tried to see how to leverage that for building greater understanding between themselves and how to take forward the economic and commercial relationship between India and China in the midst of these evolving challenges," Misri said.

The Foreign Secretary further said that there are common interests for India and China that are large actors on the international, commercial, economic, and financial stage.

“There is a deficit in how the WTO (World Trade Organization) is working, for instance. There is even a deficit in how the United Nations is working at this point in time. These are obviously common interests for two countries, such as India and China, that are large actors on the international, commercial, economic, and financial stage…" he added.

PM Modi and President Jinping considered it necessary to expand common ground on bilateral, regional, and global issues and challenges, Misri said.

While speaking about India-China trade relations, Misri said that both leaders believe that the Indian and the Chinese economies can play in stabilising world trade.

“Both leaders underlined the need, once again, to proceed from a political and strategic direction to reduce their bilateral trade deficit, facilitate bilateral trade and investment ties in both directions, and increase policy transparency and predictability," he said.

PM Modi and President Xi held wide-ranging talks to reset the bilateral relations between India and China, which have been on the mend over the past two years since a major rift following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. This comes at a time even more significant amid a tariff tussle with the United States.

Trump’s Tariffs

The US President has imposed a 50 per cent import duty on Indian imports and a 30 per cent duty on Chinese imports.

Trump levied an additional 25 per cent import duty on Indian goods following New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil, which he claimed was fuelling Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine. China, however, has been spared by the United States.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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First Published:

August 31, 2025, 21:14 IST

News india Did PM Modi, President Xi Discuss Trump Tariffs During Bilateral Talks? MEA Responds

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