Trump Claims India-US Trade Deal Is Close To Be Concluded, Silence From New Delhi

US President Donald Trump has said that a trade deal between the United States and India is close to being finalized, sparking fresh speculation over a long-pending bilateral agreement.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said negotiations were in advanced stages.

“They want to make a deal. We’re going to make a deal. Pretty close, yeah,” Trump said when asked about prospects for an agreement. The President added that it “could be a much different kind of deal,” without elaborating.

The remarks came during a week of optimistic signals from Washington. The White House has also indicated that a deal is very close and that an announcement could come from President Trump soon.

Trump has previously described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a tough negotiator and said the US and India are negotiating an interim pact aimed at expanding market access and reducing tariffs.

Despite the claims from the US side, there has been no official confirmation or statement so far from any Indian ministers, including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry or the Ministry of External Affairs.

Indian officials have in recent months maintained that negotiations are ongoing and that India will not compromise on core national interests, particularly in agriculture and dairy sectors.

Both US and Indian officials have recently made optimistic comments about the chances of an agreement, which would break a long-running stalemate over trade between Washington and New Delhi.