Congress Demands Suspension and Renegotiation of US-India Trade Deal After Supreme Court Verdict

New Delhi, February 21, 2026: The Congress party has demanded that the interim trade agreement between India and the United States be suspended following a ruling by the US Supreme Court. Party leaders have called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make it clear that no import liberalization will take place until clarifications are received from the US side.

Congress Raises Concerns

Congress General Secretary ** Jairam Ramesh** questioned why the Modi government was in such a hurry to have the US announce the India–US trade deal on the night of February 2, 2026. He emphasized that the government must renegotiate the agreement to ensure that the livelihoods of millions of Indian farmers are not adversely affected.

Ramesh said, “Had the Prime Minister waited just 18 more days instead of rushing, Indian farmers could have avoided this crisis, and India’s sovereignty would have remained secure.”

Supreme Court Verdict

The US Supreme Court on Friday struck down President Donald Trump’s global tariff policy, stating that the Constitution clearly grants Congress the power to levy tariffs. Ramesh said that in light of this decision, the interim trade agreement should be put on hold and India should clarify that import liberalization will not proceed until the US provides a detailed explanation.

Questions on the Modi Government’s Role

Ramesh raised questions about the haste in finalizing the deal. “President Trump announced the trade agreement on February 2, claiming it was done at the request of the Prime Minister. Why did the government rush this deal? Was it to distract from Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the Lok Sabha?” he asked.

He further questioned whether Prime Minister Modi agrees with Trump’s claim that the Supreme Court verdict would not affect the India–US agreement. Ramesh noted that the Prime Minister, the Commerce Minister, and the government had been aware since December that the Supreme Court decision was imminent, and yet pressure was applied to have the deal announced quickly.