Congress Intensifies Criticism of PM Modi on India-US Trade Agreement
The Congress party launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi this Saturday, focusing on the recently finalized interim trade agreement between India and the United States. This pact, which took nearly a year to reach mutual consensus, has become a focal point of political contention following a significant ruling by the US Supreme Court.
US Court Ruling Sparks Political Firestorm
The opposition's criticism emerged after the US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs, a key component of the trade policy under his MAGA agenda. In response, Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a new 10% global tariff on imports. The Congress party quickly seized on this development to question the timing and terms of the India-US trade deal.
Allegations of Compromise and Unfavorable Terms
In a detailed post on social media platform X, the Congress outlined what it termed the "story of a trade deal and compromised PM." The party claimed that the US Supreme Court's decision means India now faces a 10% tariff rate, while the interim trade deal announced earlier this month fixed tariffs on Indian goods at 18%. This represents a sixfold increase from previous levels under 3%, a point the Congress highlighted as problematic.
The grand old party further alleged that India committed to reducing tariffs on various US goods to 0% and agreed to purchase goods worth $500 billion over five years from the United States. These commitments have raised serious concerns about the deal's impact on domestic industries and economic sovereignty.
Pointed Questions on Deal Negotiations
The Congress posed a series of sharp questions regarding the trade pact signed between New Delhi and Washington. "What was the rush to plead for a trade deal, bending backwards and agreeing to an anti-India deal?" the party demanded. It questioned why Modi pushed for the agreement suddenly after months of pending negotiations, allegedly finalizing it in a 30-minute phone call.
Other critical inquiries included: "Why did we agree to huge imports from the US and reducing tariffs on its products to zero?" and "Why did we agree to sacrifice the interests of our farmers?" The party also raised alarms over data and energy security, asking why India agreed to provide data access to the US and compromise energy security by agreeing not to buy Russian oil.
"The answer to all these and other questions is a COMPROMISED Prime Minister," the Congress alleged, framing the deal as detrimental to national interests.
Government Response and Ongoing Assessment
Meanwhile, the PM Modi-led government has stated it is closely examining the implications of the US Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs. In its first official response, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry noted, "We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday. President Trump has also addressed a press conference in that regard. Some steps have been announced by the US administration."
The ministry added, "We are studying all these developments for their implications," indicating a cautious approach as the situation evolves. The government emphasized it is monitoring the scenario and assessing potential impacts on bilateral trade relations.
This political clash underscores the high stakes involved in international trade agreements and their domestic repercussions, with the Congress leveraging recent global developments to challenge the government's economic policies.
