India Rejects US Claim on Modi-Trump Calls, Clarifies Stand on Trade Deal Talks

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has strongly dismissed remarks made by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who recently claimed that a proposed India-US trade deal stalled because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not speak to former US President Donald Trump. New Delhi has called the statement inaccurate and misleading, making it clear that the narrative does not reflect reality.

The MEA’s response comes after Lutnick suggested that a crucial phone call from Modi to Trump was expected to finalise the deal but never happened, leading the US to move on. India, however, says that version of events oversimplifies and distorts the diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Modi-Trump Communication: Setting the Record Straight

According to the MEA, Prime Minister Modi and Donald Trump spoke multiple times over the past year. Officials confirmed that the two leaders were in touch on several occasions, discussing a wide range of issues including trade, strategic cooperation and global developments.

The ministry stressed that there was no lack of communication at the leadership level and rejected the idea that a single phone call could determine the fate of a complex bilateral trade agreement. India also pointed out that trade negotiations are institutional processes involving several ministries, negotiators and rounds of detailed discussions.

Trade Talks Were Ongoing, Not Abandoned

India clarified that talks on a bilateral trade agreement began in early 2025 and progressed through multiple rounds. While both sides explored common ground, officials acknowledged that differences remained on key issues such as tariffs, market access and safeguards for domestic industries.

The MEA underlined that India has consistently pushed for a balanced and mutually beneficial trade deal, rather than a rushed agreement driven by political optics. The absence of a final deal, it said, should not be framed as diplomatic reluctance or personal disengagement.

What This Signals for India-US Relations

What this really means is that India is keen to protect the credibility of its diplomatic processes. By correcting the record, New Delhi is signalling that while it values its relationship with Washington, it will not accept simplified or personalised explanations for complex policy negotiations.

Despite the disagreement over trade talks, India maintains that engagement with the United States remains strong and ongoing, with scope for cooperation across economic, strategic and geopolitical areas.