Amid ongoing tensions between New Delhi and Washington over tariffs and a proposed Free Trade Agreement, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke eight times during 2025.
The statement came days after remarks by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that India-US trade negotiations had stalled. While the MEA did not directly name the comments, it firmly rejected the portrayal of the talks.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India and the United States had committed to negotiating a bilateral trade agreement as early as February 13, 2025. Since then, both sides have held several rounds of discussions aimed at reaching a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement.
According to the MEA, negotiations have come close to conclusion on multiple occasions. However, the government maintained that the characterisation of the talks in recent remarks was inaccurate. India, Jaiswal said, continues to remain interested in finalising a fair trade deal between the two economies, which are seen as complementary.
The MEA also highlighted the continued diplomatic engagement between the two leaders, noting that Prime Minister Modi and President Trump held eight phone conversations in 2025. These discussions covered a wide range of issues linked to the broader India-US strategic partnership.
The statement signals that despite trade-related differences, communication channels between India and the United States remain active, with both sides expressing interest in concluding a comprehensive trade agreement.

MEA rejects stalled trade deal claims amid India-US tariff tensions

Modi, Trump Spoke Eight Times in 2025: MEA

MEA rejects stalled trade deal claims amid India-US tariff tensions

January 9, 2026 | 22:19 IST