It seems that Trump and Indian PM Narendra Modi may get down to business in their meeting this afternoon.

The White House has just indicated reciprocal tariffs could be coming New Delhi's way.

A new White House press release notes a trade imbalance with India, along with several other countries that the US accuses of taking "advantage" of American businesses.

The document notes that the average US tariff on agriculture goods is 5% for countries to which Washington has granted most favoured nation (MFN) status - the most advantageous terms the US offers on tariffs and other restrictions.

"But India’s average applied MFN tariff is 39%. India also charges a 100% tariff on US motorcycles, while we only charge a 2.4% tariff on Indian motorcycles," the White House fact sheet adds.

Michael Kugelman
Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Centre

When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Donald Trump at the White House this afternoon, there will be some warm hugs and shared laughs. But that will not be all.

Trump and Modi have developed a strong personal rapport over the years, marked by high-profile meetings and joint appearances.

Since their first meeting in Washington in 2017, their bond has grown through other events, including joint appearances at massive rallies in Houston and Ahmedabad.

Their chemistry stems from shared worldviews and politics and a mutual strategic focus on countering China, a concern that has also strengthened the broader US-India partnership.

Trump has often criticised India, but he has never criticised Modi.

And so, during Modi's visit, the two leaders will probably spend time mapping out next steps in the US-India strategic partnership, which is already in a good place.

Here's some more from Trump's announcement on reciprocal tariffs.

"Our allies are worse than our enemies," when it comes to import taxes, he told reporters at the White House.

"They charge us a lot, but they won't let us go in. And what our commerce secretary will do is come up with a number.

"We're able to accurately determine trade numbers. It's fair to all, no other country can complain. All they have to do is reduce their tariff or not charge it."

"We want a level playing field for all American workers," Trump added.

Reuters, citing the White House, is reporting that reciprocal tariffs could be imposed within weeks - and the first countries to be looked at will be those with the largest trade surpluses.

Image source, Reuters

We're beginning to hear a little from Trump regarding his plans for reciprocal tariffs.

He just told reporters at the White House: "If you build your product in the United States, there are no tariffs.

"This should have been done years ago."

He also indicated that sending goods through another country in a bid to avoid tariffs would not be accepted.

We'll be following this closely so stay with us.

Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi's visit to Washington DC has seen him meet Elon Musk.

In a post following the meeting, Modi writes that the pair discussed "various issues" including space, technology and mobility.

"I talked about India's efforts towards reform and furthering 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.'"

The prime minister also calls it a "delight" to meet Musk's family.

Modi is also due to meet Trump later today.

Donald Trump’s ideas will shape America. But he can’t enact them alone.

His top team will tackle issues like immigration, US rivalry with China and shrinking the federal government.

We've created a page visually outlining the key people selected to deliver Trump's most high-profile policies.

Read more.

President Trump is expected to hold a news conference any minute from the Oval Office on reciprocal tariffs. His public schedule says he is due to sign executive orders at that time.

In just the first few weeks of the Trump administration, we've already seen activity on tariffs, which are one of his favourite economic tools.

If he does impose reciprocal tariffs, it would fulfil an election campaign pledge to levy duties on imports to the US at the same rates that are imposed by those products' countries of origin on US goods.

This week he announced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium products coming into the US, set to begin on 12 March.

He's already imposed a 10% import tax on goods from China.

Canada and Mexico have so far managed to strike a deal with the president to avert across-the-board tariffs - at least temporarily.

We just watched an interesting exchange between education secretary nominee Linda McMahon and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Sanders, an independent who serves as the committee's ranking member, asked McMahon if she believed a movement to abolish the Department of Education would have to go through Congress.

"Yes, it is set up by the United States Congress, and we work with Congress. It clearly cannot be shut down without it," she said.

Trump is considering an executive order to gut the department, which was set up in 1980, according to US media outlets.

Read more: What does the Department of Education do - and can Trump dismantle it?

Image source, Reuters

Over in Brussels, meanwhile, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has been speaking about Nato.

He told reporters that Nato should increase its spending, readiness and "lethality", as he said their mission should be to "make Nato great again".

Hegseth added that President Donald Trump's administration "believes in alliances, deeply believes in alliances".

"But make no mistake, President Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into Uncle Sucker," he added.

On Wednesday, Hegseth told the Nato meeting that the US would be more focused on the security of its own borders from now on.

He also told US allies that Ukraine would not get all its territory back from Russia and will not be allowed to join Nato.

Our colleagues in Brussels are staying on top of developments related to Russia and Ukraine in a separate live page.

Image source, Getty Images

This morning we're also watching education secretary nominee Linda McMahon testify before the Senate education committee.

In her opening remarks, McMahon spoke about the benefits of school choice and increasing transparency around costs for higher education.

"If confirmed as secretary, I will work with Congress to re-orient the department toward helping educators, not controlling them," she said.

McMahon served on Connecticut state's board of education from 2009 until 2010.

She led the Small Business Administration during Trump's first presidency and donated millions to his presidential campaign.

In 1980, she co-founded Titan Sports with her husband before it became the parent company of WWE.

Image source, Reuters

In a separate confirmation vote, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, has gone through by 72-28.

The White House just said one of Rollins' priorities will be to address the egg shortage in the country, which has been caused by a bird flu outbreak that has led to the culling of millions of chickens.

Announcing her nomination in November, the president said: "As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country."

Rollins, who grew up on a farm, is co-founder and president of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank that promotes Trump's policy agenda.

This role will see her overseeing farm subsidies, federal nutrition programmes, meat inspections and other facets of the country's farm, food and forestry industries.

Image source, Reuters

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell has explained his 'no' vote for RFK Jr as health secretary.

In a statement, the Kentucky senator outlines his history as a survivor of polio.

"In my lifetime, I've watched vaccines save millions of lives from devastating diseases across America and around the world," he says.

"I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles."

Referring to what he calls Kennedy's record of "dangerous conspiracy theories" and "eroding trust in public health institutions" - McConnell says RFK Jr failed to prove he would be the "best possible person" for the job.

"As he takes office, I sincerely hope Mr Kennedy will choose not to sow further doubt and division but to restore trust in our public health institutions," McConnell concludes.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

Another day, another contentious cabinet nominee has been confirmed in the Senate. This time it's Robert F Kennedy Jr, the Democrat turned independent turned Donald Trump ally.

For a time, his path to health secretary seemed shaky. His vaccine scepticism concerned centrist Republicans, and his past support for abortion worried conservatives.

All the Republicans stuck together in a key test vote earlier this week, however. It was just the latest example of the party - or at least enough of the Senate - closing ranks behind their president’s picks when push comes to shove.

Such support didn’t seem likely last year when Trump’s first pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, quickly crashed and burned.

It turns out, however, that Gaetz was singularly unpopular among Senate Republicans.

He was the exception, rather than the Republican lockstep rule.

RFK Jr has been voted in as health secretary and is the latest of Trump's nominees to be selected for their chosen roles.

He was approved by 52 to 48 votes.

As a reminder, some of his priorities include tackling obesity and cutting out ultra-processed foods.

Stay with us - we'll have more on this shortly.

Image source, Getty Images

As we've just reported, former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was the only Republican senator to vote no on RFK Jr's nomination.

McConnell may have been motivated this time by his experience as a polio survivor. Kennedy has previously criticised the vaccine, which research shows is safe and effective.

It's not the first time McConnell has found himself among a small group of Republicans going against Trump's wishes.

He voted no on Trump's pick for the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, whom he said "alarming lapses in judgment" regarding her sympathetic comments to Russia and other statements she's made.

McConnell also voted no on Pete Hegseth, the new defence secretary, who had denied misconduct allegations and claims he was under-qualified.

McConnell has had a fraught relationship with Trump over the years, at times pushing back against him, including after the 6 January riots, while at other times choosing to stick by his side.

Kash Patel has just taken a stride towards being confirmed as Trump's nominee for FBI director.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted by 12-10 to advance him.

This puts Patel on course for a final confirmation vote before the full Senate.

RFK Jr is close to clinching the nomination for health secretary.

Only one Republican has so far voted against him - former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell.

The 'no' from the Kentucky senator is not enough to block Kennedy's nomination.

McConnell also voted against Trump's pick for the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.

Senators are currently voting on whether to confirm RFK Jr as health secretary.

We'll bring that result to you when we have it.

This is the last hurdle for RFK Jr to get over before he can be appointed as Donald Trump's health secretary.

At his first confirmation hearing in January, Senators quizzed him on his views over vaccines, abortion and food additives.

In the clip below you can see some of the key moments - our colleagues also pulled together five key takeaways from the hearing at the time: