MEA sets the record straight after Howard Lutnick’s ‘Modi didn’t speak’ claim on India-US trade deal

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has rejected U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s claim that a lack of personal outreach from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the reason for stalled U.S.–India trade deal negotiations, clarifying that Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone eight times in 2025 as part of ongoing high-level engagement. New Delhi said the characterization of discussions as “not getting done” due to a missing call is inaccurate and reiterated its interest in negotiating a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement, underscoring continued dialogue between the two leaders amid broader diplomatic and tariff tensions.