India on Friday dismissed remarks by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggesting that a bilateral trade deal with the US could not be finalised last year because Prime Minister Narendra Modi “did not call” President Donald Trump. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated that New Delhi remains committed to a mutually beneficial trade agreement.
India and the US initiated talks on a trade pact following a February 2025 meeting between Modi and Trump in Washington. Lutnick told a podcast that India had "three Fridays" to close the deal and implied that the PM’s call to Trump was necessary for finalisation. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, however, said Lutnick’s characterisation was inaccurate.
The two sides "have been close to a deal "on multiple occasions, Jaiswal stated, adding that negotiations aimed at a balanced agreement were ongoing in line with the February 13 meeting.
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"We remain interested in a mutually beneficial trade deal between two complementary economies and look forward to concluding it. Incidentally, Prime Minister Modi and President Trump have also spoken on the phone on eight occasions during 2025, covering different aspects of our wide-ranging partnership", Jaiswal said.
Modi and Trump maintained regular contact
Jaiswal highlighted that Modi and Trump had spoken eight times during 2025, discussing various aspects of the bilateral partnership. He reaffirmed India’s interest in concluding a trade deal between the two complementary economies, emphasising that efforts to finalise the agreement were consistent and continuous.
US pressure and energy concerns
As per a report by the Hindustan Times, people familiar with the matter said it was never accurate to suggest that a single phone call could have sealed the deal, noting that the US repeatedly added demands during negotiations. The focus remained on opening India’s agriculture and dairy sectors, with the Indian government maintaining clear red lines.
Jaiswal also commented on US Senator Lindsey Graham’s Russia Sanctions Bill, which proposes sanctions of up to 500% on countries buying Russian oil, including India. He emphasised India’s approach to energy sourcing is guided by global market dynamics and the need to ensure affordable energy for its 1.4 billion citizens.
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He said, "Our position on the larger question of energy sourcing is well known. In this endeavour, we are guided by the evolving dynamics of the global market and by the imperative to secure affordable energy from diverse sources to meet the energy security needs of our 1.4 billion people."
Commitment to multilateralism
The MEA reiterated India’s support for multilateral solutions, referencing the International Solar Alliance. “Since its inception, the International Solar Alliance has made significant progress in advancing its mandate to promote solar energy deployment and cooperation among its 125 member countries. We will continue to advance its goals,” Jaiswal said.
