Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump spoke by phone on September 30, reviewing bilateral cooperation as both countries work to finalise a pending trade agreement.

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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation on September 30, 2026.
• The leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, energy, critical technologies and other areas of mutual interest, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
• Modi described the conversation as productive and said both sides agreed to maintain close engagement to advance the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
• The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues, including efforts to advance global peace and security.
• Official sources said the Indian side initiated the call, the first between the leaders since Trump signed legislation allowing tariffs of up to 100 per cent on buyers of Russian oil and gas.
• No US readout of the call had been released at the time of reporting, and India's statement did not mention the sanctions legislation.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on September 28 that the two sides had reached more or less an understanding on the trade agreement.
• Jaishankar said early expectations of rapid progress met a more complex reality, pointing to India's large base of small farmers and producers.
• He named changes in US tariff rules and the ongoing Section 301 process as key factors in deciding when to conclude the deal.
• Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974 allows the US Trade Representative to investigate trade practices deemed unfair and impose retaliatory tariffs.
• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in the US from September 29 to October 5 for the G20 Trade Ministers' meeting in Milwaukee and talks with Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on an interim deal.
• The trade understanding will be tested by whether it can be finalised amid new US tariff instruments aimed at Russian energy purchases.