EU-India Trade Deal Sparks U.S. Criticism, Former American Official Blasts Trump Administration

The long-anticipated free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union, hailed as the “Mother of All Deals,” has drawn sharp criticism from the United States. While U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bassett described the agreement as a betrayal of Washington, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Asia expert Evan Feigenbaum openly rebuked the Trump administration for damaging U.S.-India relations.

Feigenbaum argued that the U.S. has been wrongly blaming India for geopolitical tensions, citing India’s purchase of Russian oil amid the Ukraine war. “The claim that the war in Ukraine is happening because of India’s oil purchases rather than Vladimir Putin is entirely absurd. Russian oil is not the only source of tension between the U.S. and India,” Feigenbaum wrote in response to Bassett’s remarks shared on X (formerly Twitter).

Trump Administration’s Role in U.S.-India Relations

Feigenbaum criticized the Trump administration for politicizing decades of diplomatic progress. “The Trump administration has undone 25 years of work in building U.S.-India relations, including progress made during Trump’s first term. It has succeeded in turning a previously non-political relationship into a political issue in both New Delhi and Washington,” he said.

He further noted that objections over third-country partnerships, such as Europe’s engagement with India, should not be allowed to interfere with bilateral relations. “I worked on U.S.-India relations during President George W. Bush’s tenure, including involvement in the civil nuclear deal. Despite warnings to the Trump administration last August, they have failed to grasp this principle,” Feigenbaum added.

U.S. Concerns Over Europe-India Deal

Treasury Secretary Bassett had criticized Europe for signing the trade deal with India while allegedly undermining U.S. efforts regarding the Ukraine war. He pointed out that while the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on India to limit funds flowing to Russia from oil sales, Europe continued engaging with India. According to Bassett, Europe’s purchase of refined products made from Russian oil effectively finances actions contrary to both Ukraine’s and Europe’s interests.

The “Mother of All Deals”

The EU-India FTA, signed in New Delhi on Tuesday, comes after nearly two decades of negotiations. It is expected to create an integrated market for over 200 million people and significantly enhance trade and economic ties between the two regions. The scale and scope of this agreement have drawn international attention, including scrutiny from Washington.