India's Prime Minister Modi Possibly Avoids UN Assembly Due to Tariff Issues

India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, may not travel to the US to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, due to escalating trade tensions between the two nations.

The trade disputes have been a point of contention in recent months, affecting bilateral relations. The US President, Donald Trump, has been vocal about the high tariffs on American goods in India, stating that "whatever they make" is poured into the US.

Trump has particularly pointed out the high tariffs on Harley Davidson motorbikes as an example, mentioning that the American company had to open a plant in India to escape the high tariffs on their motorbikes.

The trade tensions have led to speculation about potential secondary sanctions on India, the largest purchaser of Russian oil outside China. Trump claimed that such sanctions could cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia.

In response to a question about the 50% tariffs on India, Trump stated that Indian tariffs are too high, but he has not yet implemented a "second or third phase" of tariff action against India.

While the potential cancellation of the trip by Prime Minister Modi has not been officially confirmed, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to lead the Indian delegation at the UNGA session.

The UNGA session is an annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled towards the end of this month in New York. The session is a meeting of the UN's 193 member states, providing a platform for discussions on a wide range of global issues.

In case Prime Minister Modi refuses to travel, the Indian delegation will be led by a senior government or diplomatic official, but the exact person's name is not yet known.

The trade tensions between India and the US have impacted the planned travel of Prime Minister Modi to the US, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing disputes. The situation will be closely watched as both nations strive to maintain a balance in their bilateral relations.