Congress Raises Concerns Over Proposed US-India Trade Agreement

The Indian National Congress party has expressed significant reservations about a potential trade agreement with the United States, urging the Indian government to be more cautious. On 23 June 2026, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh warned against being misled into finalising the deal, stating that its current terms are unfavourable to India.

Ramesh called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cease what he termed as 'appeasing' U.S. President Donald Trump during the ongoing negotiations, especially with the visit of U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer taking place in New Delhi. He argued that the proposed agreement, if signed, could have detrimental effects on Indian farmers and local industries.

The Congress leader highlighted the joint statement made by India and the U.S. on 6 February 2026, which proposed a reduction of tariffs on Indian exports. However, the expectation from India to lower tariffs on American agricultural and industrial products has raised concerns. Ramesh noted that this understanding is now in question due to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling which deemed President Trump's reciprocal tariff policy illegal.

Following the court's decision, Ramesh pointed out that the concessions initially promised by the U.S. have become uncertain. Furthermore, he mentioned that Washington has since imposed a temporary 10% tariff on imports from various partners, including India.

In addition, Ramesh disclosed that India is currently under investigation by U.S. authorities for alleged unfair trade practices. He suggested that this investigation is being used as leverage by the U.S. to pressure India into formalising the trade agreement.

He emphasised that the potential deal could be damaging, particularly for farmers in several Indian states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Ramesh maintained that India should not feel obligated to sign any trade agreement that is disproportionately against its interests, stating, 'There is absolutely no need for India to be bamboozled into signing any trade agreement which, as it stands now, is heavily against India’s interests.'