Washington: The long-pending US-India trade deal has hit a roadblock, according to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who revealed that the deal could not be finalized because Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call US President Donald Trump as required.
Speaking in an interview, Lutnick said that he personally helped draft the agreement, but for the deal to reach completion, a direct call between the two leaders was essential. “The Indian side was not comfortable with this step, and Prime Minister Modi did not make the call. As a result, the agreement has remained pending for a long time,” Lutnick stated.
US Steps Back from the Deal
Lutnick further disclosed that the conditions under which the deal had been progressing have now lapsed. “The United States has stepped back from the trade agreement we had tentatively agreed upon with India. We are no longer pursuing it,” he said.
When asked about the current status of the negotiations, Lutnick clarified, “Indian officials reminded me that we had reached an agreement on this deal. I acknowledged that I had agreed at the time, but now we are not prepared to move forward on it.”
The disclosure highlights the role of high-level diplomatic engagement in international trade agreements and suggests that the stalled US-India deal may not resume under the previously discussed terms.
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