New York, United States – July 31: The India-US trade agreement remains unfinished, and according to trade experts, one major reason is US President Donald Trump’s insistence on being personally involved in the final terms of the deal.
Speaking to the press, Mark Linscott, a former Assistant US Trade Representative and now Senior Advisor at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, explained that while substantial progress has been made between Washington and New Delhi, final touches require a direct intervention from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“But the President insists on putting his stamp on every deal. For that to happen with India, I think it required Prime Minister Modi to reach out to negotiate the last elements directly with the President, including any headline commitments on purchases of energy and military equipment and investments in the US. For whatever reason, that did not happen,” Linscott said.
The remarks come just days after Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on Indian imports, citing what he called “strenuous” and “obnoxious” non-monetary barriers in India’s trade regime. The White House has yet to confirm if any backchannel discussions between Modi and Trump are underway.
Trade experts say the US side had been signaling an imminent deal for weeks. However, with Trump emphasizing personal oversight of key agreements similar to his handling of trade deals with China and Mexico, it may take a leader-to-leader negotiation to conclude.
“I’m hopeful that the two sides can resume negotiations in August,” Linscott added.
India and the US have been working to resolve longstanding trade disputes over market access, tariffs on agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and tech goods. Talks have also included potential Indian purchases of LNG, defense equipment, and commercial aircraft.
While India has expressed a willingness to deepen strategic and economic ties with the US, analysts note that Trump’s sudden tariff move may complicate the political dynamics, especially in an election season for both countries.
The next round of trade negotiations is tentatively expected in August, though no official dates have been announced by either side.