India on Tuesday formally challenged the US on higher auto tariffs by raising the matter with the World Trade Organization, signaling a hardening of the South Asian nation’s stance on trade talks even as the two countries race to clinch an interim deal before July.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Monday voiced optimism for a trade deal soon with India to avoid tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump.

Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Annual Leadership Summit on Monday, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said that while trade deals usually took two-three years, the US is trying to close them within a month.