The United States is likely to reach a trade agreement with India soon, ahead of the July 9 deadline set by President Donald Trump to avoid sweeping tariffs, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said.
Speaking at the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum on Monday, Lutnick expressed confidence that both nations were on course to resolve outstanding trade issues.
“You should expect a deal between the United States and India in the not-too-distant future,” Lutnick said, adding that he was “very optimistic” about the prospects of an agreement.
President Trump has threatened broad tariff measures as part of his push to correct what he considers systemic unfairness in global trade practices. The new deadline gives trading partners until July 9 to align with U.S. demands and avoid penalties.
Lutnick, known for his strong support of tariffs, praised India as an important partner but pointed to concerns over the country’s use of protectionist trade policies.
“Bringing [tariffs] down to a level that is reasonable and appropriate so we can be great trading partners with each other, I think is absolutely on the table,” he said.
He noted that certain decisions by the Indian government, including its continued reliance on Russian military equipment, had created friction with the U.S.
“There were certain things that the Indian government did that generally rubbed the United States the wrong way. For instance, they generally buy military gear from Russia,” Lutnick stated.
However, he added that President Trump views these issues as negotiable and believes the Indian government is taking steps to address them.
“The Indian government is addressing it specifically and directly,” Lutnick said.
The remarks come amid broader efforts by Washington to reshape global trade dynamics and strengthen bilateral ties with key partners, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
