The prime minister was received at the airport by India's Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla
The deal under discussion with India would lower some tariffs on US produce and restore preferential treatment for some Indian exports to the United States, sources said
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to America indicates that the India-US strategic relationship has the potential to become the defining partnership of this century
This is the largest gathering of Indian-Americans, which is the most affluent minority group in America
The United States removed India from the GSP programme that allowed duty-free entry for up to $5.6 billion worth of its annual exports to the United States, citing lack of reciprocal market access
According to media reports, officials of the two countries are trying to finalise a trade deal before Prime Minister Modi and Trump meet in Houston
India has raised tariffs on 28 items, including almond, pulses and walnut, exported from the US in retaliation to America's withdrawal of preferential access for Indian products
The Indian ambassador to US asserted that the strategic relationship between two countries has the potential to become the 'defining partnership' within this century
Responding to a question on commerce, he said the trade problem between the two countries is "normal"
Asserting that there is scope to further boost trade with the US, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce National President S K Sarkar said the target is to achieve a bilateral trade of $500-bn by 2022
After repeated overtures from Trump administration, India has told the US that it was unwilling to discuss a full FTA
The unprecedented move of five American governors visiting India in quick succession is a part of the efforts by the Trump administration and the Modi government to enhance state-to-state relationship
The Modi-Trump meeting assumes significance in the wake of the strain that has popped up in the bilateral relationship on a host of trade and economic issues
The issue of trade tension came up in a telephonic conversation between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday
US and Indian trade negotiators ended talks in July without making major progress on a range of disputes.
'The US would be unwise to turn to Pakistan as a strategic partner,' Richard N Hass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in an op-ed last week.
Immigrants who go on hunger strike are often moved to ICE's El Paso facility to be fed against their will
The world's top producer of crude palm oil produced 2.8 million tonnes tonnes of the edible oil last year
He said that the shared democratic values of the two nations, strong people-to-people ties and commitment to economic growth have further cemented the relationship
India has made it clear to America that any discussion on the issue, if at all warranted, will only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally