US Official Claims Modi's Call to Trump Derailed India-US Trade Deal

• US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated on a podcast that a trade deal with India failed because PM Modi did not call President Trump.
• Lutnick claimed the deal was ready but Modi's call was crucial, and its absence led to the US closing deals with other countries.
• Negotiations for the bilateral trade agreement began in March 2025, with 6 rounds held, aiming to remove trade barriers.
• India-US trade relations are strained by US tariffs, including 50% on Indian imports, with 25% linked to Russian oil purchases.
• A new 'Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025' bill threatens 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, impacting India, China, and Brazil.

Why It Matters: A US official alleges PM Modi's inaction caused a critical India-US trade deal to collapse.