India has dismissed US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s statement that a trade deal failed because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call President Donald Trump as “not accurate.” MEA says this was not a case of unanswered calls, but months of hard bargaining between two of the world’s largest economies. There were multiple rounds of negotiations, several near-deals, and constant engagement, hardly radio silence.
So was a complex trade agreement really hinging on a phone call? India maintains the talks were real, serious, and continuous, and says it remains committed to a fair and mutually beneficial deal. The line, apparently, was never cut off.
Trade Talks Weren’t Stalled- They Were Complicated, MEA Clarifies
In response to the criticism, the Ministry of External Affairs said India and the US have been actively negotiating a bilateral trade agreement since February 13 last year, holding multiple rounds of talks aimed at achieving a balanced and mutually beneficial outcome. New Delhi has stressed that the two sides were close to a deal on several occasions, countering the impression of non-engagement suggested by the remarks.
So were the negotiations really stuck in neutral, or simply navigating the usual twists of complex trade diplomacy? The MEA said the characterisation of the talks did not reflect their true nature, emphasising that discussions were substantive, ongoing, and serious. Trade deals, after all, are not finalised overnight, or with a single phone call. India maintains it remains fully committed to reaching an agreement that benefits both economies and insists the negotiating table has been busy, not empty.
Eight Calls, Zero Silence: MEA Sets the Record Straight
The MEA countered allegations of weak political engagement, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump held eight phone conversations in 2025. Was there really a lack of diplomacy—or was it simply overlooked? According to New Delhi, the lines were always busy.
Missed Call Or Missed Timing? US Version Of The Trade Stalemate
In a podcast, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the India–US trade deal got stuck because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not personally call President Donald Trump to close it, claiming New Delhi was “uncomfortable” taking that step. During this period, the US moved ahead and concluded trade agreements with Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, assuming India would soon follow.
But when India later returned to the negotiating table, Lutnick argued that the tariff landscape had changed, making the deal more complicated. Could a single phone call really stall a complex trade pact, or did faster US trade diplomacy elsewhere simply move on? The US narrative suggests timing, tariffs, and missed moments, not just missed calls, shaped the outcome.