India denies Trump administration’s new claim on ceasefire: ‘Trade talks were never part of discussions’

On Thursday, the Indian government made it clear that the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan on May 10, following “Operation Sindoor,” had nothing to do with any trade talks with the United States. This statement came after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed in a court filing that the ceasefire was only possible because then-President Donald Trump offered trade access to both India and Pakistan.

Lutnick’s submission, made on May 23 during a legal challenge against Trump’s tariff policies by US business owners, said, “President Trump interceded and offered both nations trading access with the United States to avert a full-scale war.”

However, during a weekly press briefing, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India had already clearly stated its position on this matter. He said that from the start of Operation Sindoor on May 7 up until the ceasefire on May 10, Indian and US leaders did discuss the military situation, but trade or tariffs were never part of those talks. He also mentioned that the decision to stop firing was made directly between the military officials of India and Pakistan.

In related news, the US Court of International Trade ruled on Wednesday that many of Trump’s tariff policies were illegal and temporarily halted them. This includes the 10% reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners, tariffs on Chinese imports, and specific fentanyl-related tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico.

Bloomberg noted that the court filing reveals how the Trump administration might have used trade access as leverage in international conflicts. Lutnick argued that overturning Trump’s “emergency powers” would weaken the country’s national security and its ability to respond to foreign threats, as well as disrupt economic policies tied to foreign relations.

The US Justice Department has announced it will appeal the court’s decision.