India refutes claims made by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that a phone call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Donald Trump could have saved a trade deal between the two nations, which subsequently led to 50% tariffs on Indian goods.

• Lutnick stated India missed a critical window to finalize the deal, suggesting Trump's "staircase" approach means initial offers are the best.
• India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, countered that Modi and Trump spoke eight times last year and negotiations were close at several points.
• Key sticking points in the negotiations, including agriculture and India's purchase of Russian oil, remain unresolved.