U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick outlines rapid progress in trade negotiations between America and India, under President Trump's tariff strategy.
Get the inside scoop on the US-India trade deal negotiations.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick made a stirring call for a stronger economic partnership between the US and India at the 2025 U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) in Washington D.C. on June 2, 2025.
Taking the stage, the commerce secretary laid out the path forward for US-India trade ties, emphasizing deeper economic cooperation in line with President Trump’s aggressive tariff-driven approach.
"First in, best equipped. That's the name of the game," Lutnick declared during his keynote address, urging India to seize early opportunities in the US market.
Acknowledging the swift pace at which the negotiations are progressing, Lutnick admitted that, "These kinds of deals used to take 2 or 3 years, and we're trying to get them done in a month."
India's Ambition to Secure an Early Deal
Lutnick praised India's eagerness to secure an earlier deal, a strategy that could bring benefits to both countries. However, he cautioned that the US isn't demanding wholesale concessions from India, but instead seeking reasonable access to India's burgeoning markets.
"We would like our businesses to have reasonable access to the markets of India," he said. "We want to reduce the trade deficit, but that's not all we're after."
He continued,
Negotiations in a Strong Position
Lutnick declared that the ongoing talks between India and the US are in a "very good place," and that a deal between the US and India can be expected in the "not-too-distant future."
Meanwhile, Donald Trump reinforced his protectionist stance on trade in a TruthSocial post following the forum, asserting that without the ability to impose reciprocal tariffs quickly and nimbly, the US would have no chance of economic survival.
In April, Trump imposed a 27% tariff on most Indian goods to compel India to lower tariffs. The negotiations have since steered toward resolution, with efforts to ease tariffs underway. India has strategically avoided retaliation and instead opted for dialogue to address the trade tensions.
A U.S. delegation is slated to visit New Delhi for two-day talks, focusing on finalizing tariff cuts and concessions. In the meantime, the suspension of the 26% tariff on Indian goods by the US, until July 8, 2025, is intensifying efforts to reach a deal before the deadline.
Stay tuned for updates on this high-stakes US-India trade tug-of-war, as both nations forge ahead towards a mutually beneficial agreement.
- The commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, urged India to seize early opportunities in the US market as he emphasized deeper economic cooperation, following President Trump’s aggressive tariff-driven approach.
- Acknowledging the swift pace at which the negotiations are progressing, Lutnick admitted that, "These kinds of deals used to take 2 or 3 years, and we're trying to get them done in a month."
- Lutnick praised India's eagerness to secure an earlier deal and stated that the US would like reasonable access to India's burgeoning markets in exchange, with the aim of reducing the trade deficit.
- Lutnick declared that the ongoing talks between India and the US are in a "very good place," and that a deal between the US and India can be expected in the "not-too-distant future." The US-India trade deal, a high-stakes negotiating process, is drawing increased attention in the general-news, finance, business, politics, and markets sectors.
