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yesterday

U.S. Says India Trade Deal Stalled After Modi Didn’t Call Trump, Earlier Terms Now Off the Table

A staircase-style push plus 50% duties and a newly approved Russia oil sanctions bill now put heavier pressure on New Delhi.

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'Modi didn't call': Howard Lutnick's big claim on India-US trade deal deadlock, says THIS on America
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Overview

  • Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the pact failed to close because a leader-to-leader call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Donald Trump never happened.
  • After that window passed, Washington concluded agreements with Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam at higher tariff levels under Trump’s “staircase” strategy.
  • Lutnick said the understanding previously discussed with India has been withdrawn and that the U.S. has stepped back from those terms.
  • Indian exports face a combined U.S. tariff rate of about 50%, including a 25% levy linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil.
  • Trump has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could enable tariffs as high as 500% on countries buying Russian oil, and Indian officials had not immediately responded to Lutnick’s remarks.