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Informist, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The trade deal between New Delhi and Washington has not happened because Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call US President Donald Trump in time, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Friday. If not for this, the trade deal with India would have been signed before those with Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, according to Lutnick.

 

"I set the deal up. But you had to have Modi call President Trump. They (India) were uncomfortable with it. So Modi didn't call," Lutnick said on US venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya's All-In Podcast. 

 

"We did trade deals with Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. We assumed a trade deal with India before them," Lutnick said. The US concluded its trade deals with Indonesia and the Philippines in July. With Vietnam, the US concluded the deal in October. "So, now the problem is that the deals came out at a higher rate and then India calls back and says 'okay, we are ready'," Lutnick said. "I said ready for what? Are you ready for the train that left three weeks ago?"

 

Indian goods currently attract 50% tariff in the US. Indian Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal had said last month that the two sides were close to an interim framework agreement to address India's concerns about the 50% tariff, but declined to give a timeline.  End

 

US$1 = INR 90.07

 

Reported by Krity Ambey

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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