'You can’t walk in there': Trump calls full access to India 'unthinkable' amid trade talks

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that while discussions with India on a trade deal are ongoing, the prospects of removing all trade restrictions remain uncertain.

The comments by the US President come as his July 9 trade deadline fast approaches. However, in the latest remarks he also said that deadline was not a fixed date.

“We are looking to get a full trade barrier dropping, which is unthinkable, and I am not sure that that is going to happen. But as of this moment, we agree that going to India and trade...” Trump said at a White House press conference, referring to India’s current market access restrictions.


“India, I think we are going to reach a deal where we have the right to go and do trade. Right now, it's restricted. You can't walk in there, you can't even think about it,” he added.

Earlier on Thursday, while speaking at the Big Beautiful Bill event, Trump hinted at a forthcoming agreement with India. “We have one coming up, maybe with India. Very big one. Where we're going to open up India…” he had said, while confirming that the U.S. had signed a fresh deal with China under the Geneva framework.

"We're not going to make deals with everybody. Some we are just going to send them a letter, say thank you very much. You are to pay 25, 35, 45 per cent. That's the easy way to do it, and my people don't want to do it that way. They want to do some of it, but they want to make more deals than I would do," he said.

The potential agreement with India is expected to address longstanding tariff and market access issues.

Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said, “You should expect a deal between the United States and India in the not-too-distant future,” signalling optimism over the negotiations.

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also confirmed that a bilateral agreement was being worked out following a February 2025 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump. “We are negotiating to make a nice, fair, equitable and balanced agreement to promote business,” Goyal said.