India Rejects US Commerce Secy's Claim: PM Modi DID Call Trump for Trade Deal

• India's MEA refuted US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's remarks that a trade deal failed because PM Modi didn't call President Trump.
• MEA stated India and the US have been negotiating a bilateral trade agreement since February last year, holding multiple rounds.
• India emphasized that discussions were often close to a deal and Lutnick's characterization is 'not accurate'.
• The ministry highlighted that PM Modi and President Trump spoke on the phone eight times in 2025 on various partnership aspects.
• Howard Lutnick claimed he asked PM Modi to call Trump directly but India was 'uncomfortable' and 'wasn't ready' for the deal.

Why It Matters: India strongly refutes US Commerce Secretary's claims, asserting active high-level engagement on trade deal.