‘We’re going to sort out India’ once it stops buying Russian oil: Lutnick on trade deal

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday said that he believes a trade deal with India will move forward once the country halts its purchases of Russian oil.

In an interview to CNBC, when Lutnick was asked which trade issue he is most focused on, he said, “we’re going to sort out India” but added that an agreement would follow “once it stops buying Russian oil.”

Lutnick also signalled progress on other trade fronts, saying, “We have a big deal coming with Taiwan,” and expressing optimism that an agreement with Switzerland would also be finalised.

Regarding South Korea, he said, “We made a deal, but let’s see if they come through with the paperwork.”

Lutnick declined to comment on whether a recent immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia had affected the timeline of that agreement.

Lutnick, who had previously took a tougher stance on India, predicting New Delhi would soon “say sorry” and return to trade talks with the US, struck a conciliatory tone on US-India relations after US President Donald Trump’s reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “dear friend,” signaling a potential easing of tensions after trade disputes under Trump’s tariffs.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Lutnick had said, “What happens is it’s all bravado cause they think it feels good to fight with the biggest client in the world. But eventually your businesses are going to say, you’ve got to stop this and go make your deal with America.”

“I think, yes, in a month or two months, India’s going to be at the table, and they’re going to say they’re sorry, and they’re going to try to make a deal with Donald Trump. And it will be on Donald Trump’s desk, how he wants to deal with Modi, and we leave that to him, and that’s why he’s the President,” he had added.

After PM Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, President Trump referred to Modi as a “dear friend.”

Takin to Truth Social, Trump said he looked forward to speaking with his “very good friend” PM Modi in the coming weeks, adding that negotiations were underway to resolve trade barriers and expressing confidence in a “successful conclusion” for both countries.

PM Modi responded, saying, “India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership.”

Trump’s comments suggested a possible thaw in US-India relations following previous trade tensions.

The SCO meeting, bringing together key regional powers, highlighted India’s strategic diplomacy amid shifting global alliances, with Trump’s warm remarks signaling openness to renewed engagement with India.

With inputs from agencies