Trump Says US ‘Very Close’ to Trade Deal with India, Talks in Final Stages

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Washington is “very close” to finalising a trade deal with India, signalling a possible breakthrough in negotiations aimed at improving market access for American businesses.

Speaking during a meeting with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the Oval Office, Trump stated, “We’re very close to a deal with India, where they open it up.” In a separate interview aired on Real America’s Voice, Trump highlighted efforts to expand American exports globally, adding, “We have another [deal] coming up, maybe with India. I don’t know, we’re in negotiation.”

The remarks come as a delegation from India’s Commerce Ministry is in Washington for a fresh round of trade negotiations. Earlier this month, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal reiterated that New Delhi will only agree to a trade pact that is thoroughly negotiated, finalised, and aligned with the country’s national interest, rejecting any deal based on timelines alone.

Trump said on Tuesday that the US is working to secure access for American businesses into the Indian market, crediting his administration’s tariff policies for pushing open foreign markets. “You have to understand, we had no access into any of these countries. Our people couldn’t go in. And now we’re getting access because of what we’re doing with the tariffs,” he said.

India and the US have been negotiating a limited trade pact aimed at reducing tariffs, keeping them below 20% on certain goods and services while addressing long-standing market access issues for both sides. The proposed agreement is seen as a potential confidence-building step toward a larger trade deal in the future.

Trump’s comments come a day after he announced a trade agreement with Indonesia, introducing a 19% tariff on Indonesian imports while allowing American goods unrestricted, tariff-free entry into Indonesian markets. This approach underscores Trump’s aggressive trade strategy, leveraging tariffs to secure better terms for US exports.

According to Reuters, discussions between India and the US have gained momentum under the new US administration, with business groups on both sides urging the governments to resolve pending trade disputes, including tariffs on steel, aluminium, medical devices, and agricultural goods.

The White House has not provided a timeline for the conclusion of the trade pact, but Trump’s comments indicate that an announcement could be expected in the coming weeks if both sides finalise pending issues.

The development is being closely watched by Indian exporters and industries, as a deal could boost trade flows between the world’s largest and fifth-largest economies at a time when global trade remains under pressure from geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions.