India Refutes Howard Lutnick's Claims on Modi-Trump Trade Deal

MEA Rejects Lutnick's Claims

• 💡 The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) refuted US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's remarks concerning the India-US trade deal.
• 📌 Lutnick had suggested the trade deal window had closed due to an alleged lack of communication between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump.
• ⚠️ The MEA explicitly stated that Lutnick's comments were "not accurate".

Clarifying Modi-Trump Communications

• 📞 The MEA confirmed that Prime Minister Modi and President Trump spoke on the phone eight occasions during 2025 alone.
• 💬 These conversations covered different aspects of their wide-ranging partnership, contradicting claims of no leadership-level contact.
• ✅ President Trump himself has posted on social media confirming these discussions, further highlighting the inaccuracy of Lutnick's statements.

Commitment to Bilateral Trade Deal

• 🤝 Both India and the United States remain committed to negotiating a mutually beneficial trade agreement.
• 📊 Multiple rounds of negotiations have already taken place since February 2025, with both sides working towards a balanced deal.
• 📈 The MEA maintains that they have been close to a deal on several occasions and remain interested in concluding it.

Discrepancies and Diplomatic Efforts

• 🧩 The report highlights contradictory narratives from US officials, with Lutnick's claims clashing with President Trump's own public statements.
• ⏳ Despite the MEA's clarification, the trade deal talks are still considered "in limbo".
• 🚀 President Trump has expressed hope for a deal and is expected to visit India in early 2026, indicating ongoing diplomatic engagement.