Commercial Describing US President-elect Donald Trump as 'India's friend', Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that India-America friendship will become even stronger during his tenure. Goyal also said that he does not see any problem in the partnership between India and America and this partnership will become even stronger in the coming time with the coming of the new administration. Speaking to the media on various initiatives and reforms implemented under the 10-year rule of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, Goyal answered questions ranging from investment plans by Tesla and Starlink to laptop import policy and the EU's “unilateral” green economy rules. Answered.
There will be no problem with Trump administration
Asked about India's view on Trump becoming the next President, Goyal said, “I think we should not be in a hurry. We should let the new government (in the US) take charge and make our formal and official stand clear.” “But given my understanding of the situation and my own experience working with the Trump administration, I don't see any problem.” Trump had alleged during his election campaign that among all the major countries, India imposes the highest customs duty on foreign products. He had also committed to impose reciprocal taxes if he came to power. Goyal said that the world's most popular leader, Prime Minister Modi, has handled India's international relations better than ever before.
Relations between America and India are getting better every year
Goyal said, “Prime Minister Modi has worked with three administrations in the US and we will once again work with the Trump administration. India's relations with the US are getting better every year.” Goyal said, “Trump is a friend of India, a friend of Prime Minister Modi and I am sure this friendship will grow deeper and deeper. This is clear from his various comments so far.” Asked about any new information on possible investments by Tesla and Starlink, owned by American industrialist Elon Musk, the minister said there has been no discussion. He said he personally had no knowledge of the issue as both issues were handled by different ministries.
laptop import policy
The Heavy Industries Ministry will handle the Tesla case while the Telecom Ministry has the Starlink case. In April, Musk had backed out at the last minute from his much-talked-about visit to India. At that time it was being speculated that Musk would announce the setting up of a Tesla manufacturing unit in India and an investment of billions of dollars. When Goyal was asked about the new guidelines for import of laptops in the country, he said that the new guidelines on India's laptop import policy are still under consideration by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. In September this year, the government had extended the approval system for import of some IT hardware products, including laptops and tablets, by three months till December 31. The Commerce and Industry Minister told reporters that he expressed his disappointment with French Foreign Trade Minister Sophie Primus on Wednesday over the EU's unilateral carbon tax provisions. He said that the European Union's green economy rules are unfair and could affect India's exports.
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