India adopted a firm and patient stance during challenging trade negotiations with the United States under President Donald Trump, clearly signalling that it would not accept pressure to sign an unfavourable agreement. According to media reports, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval personally conveyed this message to senior US leaders, including Senator Marco Rubio, during back-channel discussions.
Doval reportedly told the US side that India “would not be bullied” on trade issues and that the Narendra Modi government was prepared to wait out President Trump’s term instead of compromising on core national interests. These talks took place when bilateral relations were tense due to sharp tariff hikes imposed by the Trump administration on Indian exports.
The US decision to raise tariffs on several Indian goods caused concern in New Delhi, but India chose restraint over retaliation. Officials believed that yielding under pressure would weaken India’s negotiating position and harm sensitive sectors such as agriculture, dairy, and small-scale industries. The government focused on protecting long-term economic and strategic interests rather than seeking quick relief.
During the discussions, Doval also flagged that public criticism of India by US leaders was hurting the atmosphere for negotiations. He urged Washington to lower the public rhetoric to allow talks to move forward more constructively. Soon after, the tone between the two countries appeared to improve, with President Trump publicly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and engaging in multiple phone conversations with him.
Months of negotiations and quiet diplomacy eventually led to a trade agreement between India and the US. The deal reportedly reduced steep tariffs and aimed to strengthen bilateral trade while safeguarding India’s key interests. Indian officials described the outcome as balanced and said it reflected mutual respect rather than pressure.
The agreement also set ambitious targets for expanding India-US trade in the coming years.
