The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday clarified that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump spoke eight times during 2025, countering claims that a lack of direct communication stalled the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The statement came amid remarks by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who suggested that trade negotiations were delayed because Prime Minister Modi did not personally call President Trump to finalise the deal.
MEA Rejects Claims of Stalled Talks
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a media briefing in New Delhi, said that the characterisation of the India-US trade negotiations was “not accurate.”
“India and the United States committed to negotiating a bilateral trade agreement as early as February 13, 2025. Since then, multiple rounds of discussions have taken place to arrive at a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement,” Jaiswal said.
He added that on several occasions, both sides were close to reaching a deal, underlining that dialogue between the two governments has remained active and constructive.
Eight High-Level Conversations in One Year
Jaiswal confirmed that Prime Minister Modi and President Trump spoke eight times over the phone in 2025, covering a wide range of issues related to the India-US strategic and economic partnership.
“The Prime Minister and the President share a friendly relationship and have always engaged with mutual respect, in line with diplomatic norms,” the MEA spokesperson said.
India, he noted, continues to remain open and interested in concluding a mutually beneficial trade agreement with the United States.
What Howard Lutnick Said
Speaking on the All-In podcast hosted by entrepreneur Chamath Palihapitiya, Howard Lutnick claimed that the India-US trade deal did not materialise because Prime Minister Modi did not personally call President Trump.
Lutnick stated that the US had already concluded trade deals with Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, assuming India’s agreement would be finalised earlier.
“When India later said they were ready, I asked — ready for what?” Lutnick remarked, suggesting that tariff terms had shifted by then.
India Reaffirms Commitment to Trade Talks
The MEA reiterated that India values its economic partnership with the United States and looks forward to concluding a fair and balanced trade agreement that benefits both economies.
The clarification signals New Delhi’s intent to maintain transparency and diplomatic consistency amid evolving global trade dynamics.
