Modi Mazaka: How He Got Trump To Play That Game?

Emerging victorious in the global trade operations is not an easy thing, but it appears that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started to master this craft. The fact that he could get United States president of Donald Trump to reduce the tariff in India is a clear indication on the same.

During Donald Trump’s presidency, the United States followed an aggressive trade policy built around high tariffs. Trump openly projected himself as a hard negotiator and imposed steep import duties on several countries, including India. Certain Indian export segments faced tariff levels going up to 50 percent, creating pressure on businesses and trade volumes.

Instead of responding with equal aggression, Prime Minister Narendra Modi adopted a calculated and patient approach. India avoided public trade wars and did not escalate the issue through retaliation headlines.

Instead, the government quietly worked on reducing dependency on the US market by expanding trade engagement with Europe and other global partners. This shift gave India stronger bargaining space over time.

As global trade equations evolved, tariff pressure on Indian goods gradually softened. Reports indicate that duties which were once extremely high came down closer to the 18 percent range. This reduction was not achieved through confrontation, but through strategic alignment, diversified trade routes, and steady diplomacy.

Modi’s approach reflected a long term mindset. While Trump focused on immediate pressure tactics, India played the waiting game, strengthening alternatives and letting economic balance do the work. The outcome showed that silent strategy and diversified trade partnerships can sometimes deliver better results than loud trade battles.