Party questions tariff concessions, energy commitments and data sharing after fresh US import duties; claims national interests weakened
New Delhi: The Indian National Congress on February 21 launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over India’s recent trade engagement with the United States, alleging that the government rushed into an unfavourable agreement that compromised the country’s economic and strategic interests.
The criticism comes days after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down former President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs”. In response, Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a fresh 10 percent global tariff on imports from all countries, a move expected to affect Indian exports as well.
According to the Congress, India now faces a 10 percent US tariff rate despite having earlier agreed to a bilateral trade arrangement that fixed tariffs on Indian goods at 18 percent. The party claimed that, under the deal, India committed to reducing tariffs on several American products to zero and pledged to purchase goods worth nearly USD 500 billion over five years.
The Opposition also alleged that India agreed to curb purchases of cheaper crude oil from Russia, a step it described as a blow to the country’s energy security.
Raising a series of pointed questions, the party asked why the government hurried to finalise the agreement, why large-scale imports from the US were accepted, and why tariff protections for farmers and domestic industries were lowered. It further alleged that sensitive data-sharing commitments and energy decisions undermined national sovereignty.
In a strongly worded statement, Congress termed the agreement “anti-India” and accused the Prime Minister of “bending backwards” under external pressure.
The government has not officially responded to the charges. The Opposition is demanding greater transparency and parliamentary scrutiny over international economic agreements.
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