U.S. President Donald Trump said on October 20, 2026, that India and the U.S. are close to making a trade deal. "It's going to be a much different kind of deal than we've done," he said. Both nations continue to work on the agreement, focusing on energy, technology, and defence.
India, U.S. trade deal to be much different: Donald Trump left U.S. President Donald Trump. Reuters Reuters https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/lwoy80/article71606156.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-10-20T234416Z_1337524471_RC2B7OA9V2WB_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP-NORTH-CAROLINA.JPG Evan Vucci US President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Pitt-Greenville Airport in Greenville, North Carolina, US, October 20, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Tuesday (October 20, 2026), Mr. Trump said India and the U.S. were pretty close to making a trade deal
Washington
The U.S. and India are "pretty close" to making a trade deal, which will be much different than the earlier pacts, U.S. President Donald Trump said in Washington.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Tuesday (October 20, 2026), Mr. Trump said India and the U.S. were pretty close to making a trade deal.
Rubio says India-U.S. trade deal close, urges New Delhi to boost U.S. energy, defence buys Rubio says India-U.S. trade deal close, urges New Delhi to boost U.S. energy, defence buys The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said both sides welcomed the progress made in negotiations on the India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to working towards its early conclusion Rubio says India-U.S. trade deal close, urges New Delhi to boost U.S. energy, defence buys storyline 1
"They want to make a deal. We're going to make a deal. Pretty close, yeah," Mr. Trump said in response to a question.
"It's going to be a much different kind of deal than we've done," the President said.
Mr. Trump's remarks came at a time Secretary of State Marco Rubio was visiting India and discussed further strengthening bilateral relations focussing on sectors such as trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties.
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Earlier this month, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Milwaukee and Washington to discuss the finer aspects of the trade deal.
India and the U.S in February announced the finalisation of the framework for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA). However, changes in the tariff landscape in the U.S. have led to further negotiations on the pact.