Trump says 'US very close to making trade deal with India', confirms Pakistan talks next week

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump on Friday said that the United States is “very close to finalizing a deal with India,” and mentioned that a representative from Pakistan is scheduled to visit Washington for discussions next week.

"Pakistan’s representatives will be coming in next week. We’re really close to striking a deal with India,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews.

However, he emphasized that any ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan could jeopardize these agreements. "I wouldn’t be interested in making a deal with either side if they were about to go to war with each other," he stated.

His remarks come during a period of rising regional tension following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, a retaliatory strike in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that tragically claimed 26 lives. Trump cautioned that any outbreak of armed conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors could derail US diplomatic efforts. “I wouldn’t be interested in striking a deal with either side if they were on the brink of war,” he warned.

He also took credit for easing tensions between the nations through trade diplomacy, stating, “We discuss trade, and we emphasize that we can’t engage in trade with nations that are firing at one another and possibly using nuclear weapons… They understood this, and they agreed, which is why it all calmed down.” He expressed pride in his ability to potentially avert nuclear conflict through trade rather than military action.

These comments emerge amid a broader shift in US trade policy. The Biden administration has announced changes to global tariffs, which could impose duties of up to 29% on Pakistani exports, citing a $3 billion trade surplus with the US. Likewise, India may face tariffs as high as 26% on its exports unless negotiations lead to a temporary agreement by July.

In recent weeks, Union Minister Piyush Goyal traveled to Washington to advance these trade discussions, while Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri concluded a visit to the US from May 27 to May 29. The Indian Embassy in Washington described Misri’s meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau as a “great first meeting” that covered crucial bilateral priorities.

Additionally, Reuters recently reported that India may consider opening its government procurement market—valued at over $50 billion—to US companies, a significant concession that could enhance American involvement in federal contracts as part of the evolving trade agreement.