US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's failure to call President Donald Trump contributed to a stalled trade deal. India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed this, stating the characterization of discussions was inaccurate and that Modi and Trump had multiple conversations in 2025. Both sides remain interested in a mutually beneficial trade agreement, though past negotiations have faced complexities and unpredictability.