At a business forum held the previous day in Qatar, Trump stated that New Delhi had offered Washington a trade deal that would virtually eliminate tariffs on US products. However, during a press conference in the Indian capital, Jaishankar clarified that trade talks between India and the United States remain ongoing and complex, emphasizing that any agreement must be mutually beneficial before being finalized.

The Foreign Minister stressed that it would be premature to judge the outcome of the negotiations before their conclusion.

The disagreement follows an announcement last month by US Vice President J.D. Vance that both nations had agreed on the terms for bilateral trade negotiations, which he described as a “roadmap” toward a final deal.

Trade tensions between the two countries have escalated recently after the Trump administration imposed a 26% tariff on Indian goods, prompting India to file a proposal with the World Trade Organization (WTO) last Tuesday seeking to impose retaliatory tariffs against the US.

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