Congress Slams India US Interim Trade Deal as One Sided, Urges Government to Put Pact on Hold

Jairam Ramesh Questions US Tariff Move on Indian Solar Modules​

New Delhi, February 25: The Congress on Wednesday termed the India US interim trade deal as distinctly one sided and called on the government to put the agreement on hold, warning that it could prove disastrous for lakhs of farmers across the country.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, pointed to the recent US decision to impose a 125.87 percent duty on imports of solar modules from India.

He questioned the commitment of the US leadership to the spirit of the trade pact. “What does this say of President Trump’s commitment in letter and spirit to the India US trade deal, which has been so praised and applauded by his friend in New Delhi as opening doors for India’s exports to the US?” Ramesh said.

According to him, the arrangement disproportionately benefits the United States. He argued that while India’s imports from the US would be liberalised, Indian exports would remain vulnerable to policy changes in Washington.

“In fact, the deal is distinctly one sided. India’s imports from the US will be freed up, but exports to the US will be subject to the whims and fancies of the US president,” he stated.

Call to Scrap Agreement After Supreme Court Ruling​

The Congress leader maintained that India should take a firm stand. “There is only one way forward. India must be bold and put the deal on hold. The deal as it stands will be singularly disastrous for lakhs and lakhs of farmers across the country,” he added.

The remarks came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Indo US interim trade agreement, alleging that it was finalised under pressure. He challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scrap the pact, describing it as anti farmer in the wake of a US Supreme Court ruling on tariffs.

Addressing the ‘Kisan Mahachaupal’ rally in Bhopal on Tuesday, Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, described the agreement as “an arrow in the heart of farmers”.

He said that after the ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States declaring certain global tariffs illegal, the government should reconsider the agreement. “After the US Supreme Court ruling on the trade deal global tariffs, I challenge PM Modi to scrap it if he has courage, but he will not be able to do so,” Gandhi said.

Supreme Court Ruling on Global Tariffs​

Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed by the US president on countries around the world were illegal, stating that he had exceeded his authority in levying sweeping duties.

The Congress has linked this ruling to its criticism of the interim trade pact, asserting that the agreement, in its current form, places Indian interests, particularly those of farmers, at risk.

The government has not yet responded publicly to the latest remarks from the opposition leaders.