Lutnick Says India-U.S. Trade Deal Fell Through as Modi Didn’t Call Trump
Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, has claimed that a planned India-U.S. trade deal failed to materialise because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not initiate a call with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Lutnick’s remarks come shortly after Mr. Trump stated that Mr. Modi was aware of the U.S.’s concerns over India’s continued purchases of Russian oil and warned that Washington could impose tariffs on New Delhi “very quickly” if issues remained unresolved.
According to Lutnick, direct communication between the leaders was essential to finalise the trade agreement, and the lack of such engagement contributed to delays and missed opportunities. The India-U.S. trade deal, which aimed to enhance bilateral commerce, strengthen investment ties, and address trade imbalances, had been under discussion for months.
Experts noted that while strategic and economic factors, including energy imports and tariffs, influenced negotiations, leadership-level diplomacy often plays a decisive role in closing such high-profile international agreements.
