Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the India-US trade deal, calling Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal’s statement in Parliament a “non-statement” with no substantial details. Ramesh highlighted that crucial negotiations are still ongoing, contradicting Goyal’s assertions with official US communications.
Ramesh suggested that the announcement, made at the Prime Minister’s insistence, was more for grabbing headlines than achieving real progress in trade relations. He expressed concerns that the deal could harm Indian farmers, leading to potential flooding of domestic markets with subsidized American produce and weakened protections for sectors like dairy.
Amid growing opposition in Parliament, Ramesh and others have demanded transparency, a thorough debate, and assurances that Indian interests, especially in agriculture and dairy, are protected. The controversy escalated after social media exchanges between the Prime Minister and President Trump, with the opposition viewing the deal as compromising sovereignty for political reasons.
