Trump warned that any prolonged conflict between India and Pakistan may undermine the deals.
President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the United States is “very close to finalizing a deal with India” and that a Pakistani envoy will visit Washington for discussions next week.
“Pakistan’s delegates will arrive next week. “We’re very close to a deal with India,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews.
However, he stated that any ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan could imperil these arrangements. “I wouldn’t be interested in making a deal with either side if they were about to go to war with each other,” he told me.
His comments came amid escalating regional tensions following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, a retaliatory operation in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror assault, which killed 26 people. Trump warned that any physical clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbors will jeopardize US diplomatic efforts. “I wouldn’t be interested in striking a deal with either side if they were on the brink of war,” he told reporters.
These remarks come amid a broader shift in US trade policy. The Biden administration has announced adjustments to global tariffs, which could levy up to 29% taxes on Pakistani products, claiming a $3 billion trade imbalance with the United States. Similarly, India may face tariffs as high as 26% on its exports unless negotiations result in a temporary agreement by July.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal recently visited Washington to further these trade talks, while Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri completed a visit to the United States 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 addressed critical bilateral issues.
Furthermore, Reuters recently reported that India may explore opening its government procurement market—worth more than $50 billion—to US corporations, a substantial concession that may increase American participation in federal contracts as part of the growing trade pact.
