Modi govt entered India–US trade deal by ignoring interests of Indian farmers: Congress

Jaishankar, in a post on his X handle, said, “It will strengthen ‘Make in India' endeavors and encourage trusted technology ties.”

The Congress party on Tuesday strongly criticised the India–US trade deal announced last night, alleging that the Modi government has entered into the agreement by “ignoring the interests of Indian farmers”.

Citing a statement by US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on increased exports of American farm products to the Indian market, the Congress termed the development “deeply alarming for India”.

The party said the deal would “harm” Indian farmers, who “will now be forced to compete with American farmers in their own country”.

“This is nothing less than a direct attack on Indian farmers,” the Congress alleged, while questioning, “Why did he trade away the interests of India’s farmers?”

US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, in a statement issued on her X handle following the announcement by US President Donald Trump, thanked Trump for “ONCE AGAIN delivering for our American farmers.”

“New US-India deal will export more American farm products to India's massive market, lifting prices, and pumping cash into rural America,” the post read.

“In 2024, America’s agricultural trade deficit with India was $1.3 billion. India’s growing population is an important market for American agricultural products and today’s deal will go a long way to reducing this deficit,” the post added.

Following Trump’s announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to X to share the development, stating that he had a telephonic conversation with Donald Trump and that “Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%”.

PM Modi did not provide further details. However, Donald Trump, in his announcement, made several claims that have angered the Congress and drawn sharp reactions.

Trump claimed that the two leaders spoke on several issues, including trade and ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump further claimed that Prime Minister Modi “agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela,” adding that this would help “END THE WAR in Ukraine”.

He added that “Out of friendship and respect for Prime Minister Modi” and as per PM Modi’s request, the two countries had come to an agreement, effective immediately, “whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprorocal Tariff, lowering it from 25% to 18%.”

“They will likewise move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO,” he added.

“The Prime Minister also committed to "BUY AMERICAN," at a much higher level, in addition to over $500 BILLION DOLLARS of U.S. Energy, Technology, Agricultural, Coal, and many other products,” Trump said.

The announcement has been welcomed by leaders of the ruling party, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

Jaishankar, in a post on his X handle, said, “It will strengthen ‘Make in India’ endeavors and encourage trusted technology ties.”

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