Modi, Trump To Hash Out Tariffs And Visas In G7 Side Huddle

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 leaders summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, next week, according to people familiar with the planning. The quiet pull-aside is shaping up as a high-stakes check-in on trade, visa policy and possible energy cooperation.

What sources say

According to Reuters, unnamed officials and diplomatic sources say the leaders could cover trade ties, H-1B visa requirements and even potential U.S.-Venezuela energy cooperation on the sidelines of the summit.

Modi will begin a five-day visit starting June 13, attend the G7 leaders meetings scheduled for June 15 to 17, and then travel to Slovakia, according to Business Standard.

Trade talks on a quicker track

India's commerce team is signaling momentum in broader talks with Washington. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters that the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement could be concluded by mid-July. Business Standard and other outlets report that negotiators have accelerated work even as several thorny issues remain unresolved.

Tariffs and visas loom large

The diplomatic push comes as Washington has proposed new trade remedies that would raise the stakes for exporters. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has released a Section 301 finding and proposed additional duties of 10% or 12.5% for a slate of trading partners, a move the agency says is tied to failures to curb goods made with forced labour. The press release lays out the proposed rates, a public comment period and a hearing schedule tied to the plan, according to the USTR.

Visas and workers at stake

Visa policy is expected to be a central ask from New Delhi. Reuters reports that Indian officials plan to press for relief on tightening H-1B requirements that, diplomats say, could affect thousands of Indian professionals working in the United States. Any arrangement on visas would be politically sensitive in Washington and would have immediate implications for U.S. tech firms and Indian IT exporters.

Energy cooperation could be on the table

Officials familiar with the planning told Reuters the leaders may also explore energy cooperation, including options that touch on Venezuelan supplies, reflecting current volatility in global energy markets. Any progress on energy would likely be narrower and technical, aimed at short-term supply relief rather than sweeping new accords.

What to watch

Observers will be watching for any concrete timeline on the first trade tranche at or shortly after the summit, along with any short-term visa carve-outs or tariff-specific language in statements from the two delegations. If Modi and Trump do meet, a modest, tightly defined outcome seems likeliest: quick tariff or visa fixes that can be implemented while the broader, more complicated talks keep grinding on in the background.