New Delhi: The political heat over the recently announced US-India trade deal continues to rise, with the Congress party sharply criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
On Saturday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh argued that the joint statement issued by India and the US indicates that the diplomatic fanfare yielded little tangible benefit for India. Posting on social media, Ramesh said, “The recent US-India joint statement lacks clarity on key details. However, it appears India will no longer import oil from Russia. The US has further warned that if India directly or indirectly purchases Russian oil, a 25% punitive tariff could be reimposed.”
Ramesh claimed that India’s import duties would be reduced to benefit American farmers, potentially at the expense of Indian farmers. He added that India’s annual imports from the US are expected to triple, eroding the long-standing trade surplus in goods, while uncertainty persists over US restrictions on India’s IT and service exports.
Citing the joint statement, he alleged that India may impose higher tariffs on exports to the US, emphasizing that the grand gestures and photo opportunities—symbolized by ‘Howdy Modi’ and ‘Namaste Trump’ events—produced limited results. Ramesh quipped, “The ‘Howdy Modi’ enthusiasm has been overshadowed by ‘Namaste Trump’; the friendship is no longer equal.”
The Congress critique highlights domestic political concerns over the economic impact of the deal and its perceived implications for farmers, trade, and services.
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