Donald Trump Trade Deal: "We Have a Very Big Deal with India"— Will Pakistan Be Shocked by This Announcement? Know Details

Washington—Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, has resurfaced in the news cycle by suggesting there could be (emphasis on could) a huge trade deal with India. After reaching a trade agreement with China, Trump surprised the audience when he said, "We have a very big deal coming up, maybe with India, where we're going to open up India." 

That announcement from the podium in Washington, D.C., would suggest that the commercial relationship between the world's two largest democracies could be entering an interesting period. Trump did not elaborate, but his vocabulary was enough to capture the attention of geopolitical readers.

"India Deal Could Be Bigger Than China"

Trump suggested that India could be next once the U.S. completes an important trade deal with China. "They want to make more deals than I would do," said Trump, suggesting multiple nations, including India, were interested in trade relations with Washington as Trump's president.

The timing of the president's statement is significant, as Indian officials are already conducting significant dialogue with the U.S. on an agreement to stop the reimposition of retaliatory tariffs that are scheduled to resume on July 9 if a deal is not made.

Trade Talks in Final Stages

Sources say that U.S. and Indian delegations are working extensively behind the scenes to finalize an "early harvest" deal encompassing sector champions like agriculture, dairy, auto components, and digital trade. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized that the deal is in a "very, very good place" and is likely to happen in the "not-too-distant future."

Will Pakistan Be Shocked?

Trump's trade maneuver with India is likely to ruffle some feathers in the neighborhood, and Pakistan certainly falls into that category. A full-blown U.S.–India trade agreement not only enhances U.S-India trade but could change the tenor of geopolitics across the globe. Pakistan has fractious relationships with both Washington and New Delhi, and could find itself politically isolated if the trade deal goes through. 

Final Word

Trump's statement has sent a clear signal around the world—India is a strategic economic partner for the U.S. and not only a regional power. There will be significant attention given to the "very big" deal in the pending July 9 deadline on whether it is a monster moment in Indo-U.S. relations.