US President Donald Trump said on Monday that his administration is "close to" finalising a trade deal with India. He made this announcement during a private dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

Trump said, “We’ve made a deal with the United Kingdom. We’ve made a deal with China. We are close to making a deal with India.”

At the same time, the US announced new tariffs on several other countries that, according to Trump, are not ready to agree to Washington's trade terms.

Countries Refusing Deals Will Face Tariffs

Trump warned that the US would punish nations unwilling to cooperate. He stated, “Others we met with, and we don’t think we’re going to be able to make a deal, so we just send them a letter.”

He added, “We’re sending out letters to various countries telling them how much tariffs they have to pay.” These statements show that the US is using tariffs as pressure to push its trade agenda.

No Specifics Yet on India Deal

Trump did not explain the exact details of the trade deal with India. However, he showed some willingness to listen to genuine concerns. He said, “Some will maybe adjust a little bit depending if they have a cause. We’re not going to be unfair about it.”

Earlier reports had revealed that India had shared its concerns with the US, especially about the dairy and agricultural sectors. In response, US negotiators are reportedly considering limited relief on dairy imports.

Meanwhile, India is looking at the possibility of reducing tariffs on some American electronic goods, which may help in reaching a middle ground.

Trump Sees Openness from India

Previously, Trump had said India seemed willing to lower its trade barriers. He suggested that an agreement could be reached before the July 9 deadline. He remarked, “Right now, India doesn’t accept anybody in. I think India is going to do that. If they do, we’re going to have a deal for less—much less—tariffs.”

He was referring to the 26% reciprocal tariffs he had announced on April 2, which are currently suspended as talks continue.

US Expands Tariff List to Other Nations

While India and the US move closer to a deal, the Trump administration has taken tough action against other countries. On Monday, the US expanded tariffs on imports from Japan, South Korea, Myanmar, Laos, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Tunisia, Indonesia, Bosnia, Bangladesh, Serbia, Cambodia, and Thailand.

These tariffs will take effect on August 1, according to letters Trump posted on Truth Social.