NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Tuesday issued a strong appeal to the central government, urging it to "take the Parliament and the entire country into confidence" regarding the specifics of the newly announced India-US trade agreement. This call for transparency comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump's public declaration, which outlined several key components of the pact. The grand old party emphasized that Indian citizens have a fundamental right to know the complete terms of any international agreement that could significantly impact the nation's economy and sovereignty.
Congress Raises Critical Questions on Trade Deal Implications
In a detailed post on social media platform X, the Congress party articulated multiple concerns surrounding the trade deal. Notably, the party highlighted claims that the agreement was announced by Trump "on Modi's request," and expressed apprehension about its potential effects on Indian industry, small traders, and the agricultural community. The Congress has posed four pointed questions to the government, demanding comprehensive clarity and full disclosure of the deal's details to ensure public accountability and informed debate.
Key Areas of Concern Outlined by the Opposition
The Congress party's inquiry focuses on several critical aspects of the trade agreement as described by President Trump:
- Tariffs and Market Access: Trump stated that India would move to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers against US goods to "zero," while the US would lower its reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 18%. The Congress post expressed concern that this "seems India has agreed to completely open our market for America," and demanded specifics on what the deal entails and how the interests of Indian farmers will be safeguarded amidst such changes.
- Agriculture Sector Access: The party sought explicit clarification on discussions about opening India's agriculture sector to American products. It questioned how the security and economic interests of Indian farmers have been ensured in any such arrangements, given the sensitivity of the agricultural sector to international competition.
- Oil Supply Conditions: According to Trump's announcement, Prime Minister Modi agreed to "stop buying Russian oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela." The Congress has asked whether the Indian government has formally accepted this condition, and what implications it holds for India's energy security and foreign policy.
- Buy American Commitments: The announcement indicated that India would purchase over USD 500 billion of American goods, including energy, technology, and agricultural products. This has raised significant questions in New Delhi about how such a commitment aligns with the "Make in India" initiative, which aims to boost domestic manufacturing and self-reliance.
Trump's Announcement and Modi's Response
In his social media post announcing the deal, President Trump wrote: "It was an Honor to speak with Prime Minister Modi... He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela... effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India... whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal 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."
Responding to Trump's announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the US President, stating he was "delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%" and that stronger cooperation between the two democracies would benefit their people. However, this response did not address the broader concerns raised by the opposition or provide detailed terms beyond the tariff reduction.
Calls for Joint Disclosure and Government Silence
Congress leaders have also questioned why crucial aspects of the trade deal were publicly disclosed from Washington, rather than being jointly announced by both governments through official channels. They have called for full disclosure of the agreement's terms to lawmakers and the public, arguing that such significant international pacts should be transparently presented to ensure democratic scrutiny and national consensus.
As of now, the Indian government has not issued a comprehensive official statement detailing the full terms of the agreement beyond what was shared by President Trump and acknowledged by Prime Minister Modi. This lack of detailed information has fueled the opposition's demands for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of this major bilateral trade deal.
