In a significant development on the global trade front, US President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is &ldquo;close to making a deal with India&rdquo;, even as Washington moves ahead with imposing fresh tariffs on several countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Trump made the remarks during a White House briefing on Tuesday, where he outlined the administration's evolving trade strategy.
&ldquo;We've made a deal with the United Kingdom, we've made a deal with China, we've made a deal &mdash;we're close to making a deal with India... Others we met with, we don't think we're going to be able to make a deal. So we just send them a letter,&rdquo; President Trump said.
His comments came as the US began issuing formal notices to a number of key trading partners &mdash; including South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Bangladesh &mdash; notifying them of impending tariff increases set to take effect from August 1.
These letters mark the beginning of what the administration has described as a broader recalibration of trade relationships aimed at levelling the playing field for American producers.
&ldquo;We're sending out letters to various countries telling them how much tariffs they have to pay. Some will maybe adjust a little bit depending if they have a cause, we're not going to be unfair about it,&rdquo; Trump added.
The US-India trade talks have seen momentum in recent months, with negotiators from both sides working to finalise a limited deal focused on tariff reductions. 
However, key sticking points remain, particularly regarding market access to India&rsquo;s agricultural and dairy sectors. 
These areas are politically sensitive in India, where agriculture sustains nearly half of the population despite contributing only 16% to the economy.
Concerns over food safety and the livelihoods of rural communities have made New Delhi reluctant to open these sectors, a stance consistent with its policy of excluding agriculture from most free trade agreements.
In return, India is pressing for lower US tariffs on its labour-intensive exports such as leather goods, garments, and footwear, key industries that support millions of jobs in the country.
&mdash;IANS

Trump speaks on India trade deal progress

Trump says US nearing trade deal with India as fresh tariffs hit other key global partners

Trump: 'Close To Trade Deal With India'

Trump says US nearing trade deal with India as fresh tariffs hit other key global partners

July 8, 2025 | 15:49 IST