India has publicly refuted claims made by US President Donald Trump regarding the status of trade negotiations between the two countries, with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar emphasizing that no agreement has yet been finalized and that discussions remain ongoing. The statement, covered by Indian media including India Today, directly contradicts Trump’s remarks at a business forum in Qatar on May 15, where he asserted that India had essentially agreed to a trade deal featuring “basically zero tariffs” on American goods.

Jaishankar’s carefully worded rebuttal reflects India’s cautious approach to the sensitive trade dialogue with Washington. “Trade negotiations are still underway. They are complex, and any final deal must be mutually beneficial,” he said during a media interaction. “It has to work for both countries.”

Trump’s bold proclamation that New Delhi had agreed to eliminate tariffs has caused confusion, especially given that no official text of a trade deal has been released and negotiators from both countries remain engaged in talks. According to Jaishankar, jumping to conclusions at this stage is premature and potentially misleading.

The discrepancy in narratives points to a broader pattern seen during Trump’s second term-where foreign policy statements, particularly those made during rallies or forums, often clash with the formal positions of counterpart governments. Trump’s tendency to announce supposed breakthroughs without diplomatic confirmation has raised eyebrows among international observers and created uncertainty within bilateral relationships.

The Trump administration’s trade stance has consistently leaned toward protectionism, a trend that continued into his second........

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