India-US trade deal couldn’t be completed as Modi didn’t call Trump: Lutnick

“It was all set up. But you had to have Modi call President Trump. They [India] were uncomfortable doing it. So Modi didn’t call,” Lutnick said on the All-In Podcast, a popular technology and business podcast.

There was no immediate response from Indian officials to Lutnick’s comments .

Lutnick explained that after Washington agreed to a trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK) in May 2025, the Trump administration looked to India as one of the key countries that would be next in line. He added India was told that it had “three Fridays” to get a trade deal done with the understanding that countries that signed a trade agreement earlier would receive a lower tariff rate. Those who signed later would receive a higher rate, which Lutnick referred to as a “staircase” approach.

However, that deadline was missed due to the Indian side’s perceived reluctance to have the Indian Prime Minister call President Trump. Subsequently, Asian countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, announced deals.