Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed worries about the lack of transparency regarding the India-US trade agreement. He emphasized the importance of informing both Parliament and the country’s 140 crore citizens about the deal. The trade pact, finalized after a discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, involved a reduction in US tariffs on Indian goods to 18% and India easing certain trade barriers on American imports.
Kharge highlighted the strong Indo-US partnership built on shared values and cited the Indo-US Nuclear Deal signed during Former PM Manmohan Singh’s tenure as an example of mutual progress commitment. He contrasted the present scenario with the previous Congress-UPA government’s transparent approach of regularly updating Parliament on significant agreements. Kharge criticized the current government for not disclosing the specifics of the trade agreement and discussing it outside Parliament while the House is in session.
The Congress President pointed out that Prime Minister Modi’s social media post only thanked the US President for tariff reductions without revealing the agreement’s details. He raised concerns about whether India compromised under US pressure, agreed to zero tariffs on American imports, ensured farmers’ security, opened agricultural sectors for the US market, and addressed oil purchases from Russia. Kharge stressed the importance of transparency, stating that Parliament and the 140 crore people of India deserve to be informed.
The trade agreement has faced backlash from Opposition parties, who argue that it disproportionately benefits the United States and does not align with India’s broader economic interests.
