Hyderabad, Jan. 9 -- The India-United States trade deal was not finalised since Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call President Donald Trump, claimed US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during a podcast.

"I set the deal up, but you had to have Modi call President Trump. But they (India) were hesitant and Modi did not call," Lutnik said during an interview with told All-In Podcast.

The Commerce Secretary said that he assumed that the India deal was going to be done before Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, and negotiated with them more. "And then, India calls back and says, 'Oh, okay. We, we're ready.' I said, 'Ready for what?' You know, it was like three weeks later. I go, 'Are you ready for the train that left the station thr...