Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s statement on trade deal is a no-statement, says Congress

The Congress on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) said the statement on the India–U.S. trade agreement made by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in Parliament lacked substance and clarity.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh described it as a “non-statement”, arguing that it offered no concrete details as negotiations were still under way.

“Piyush Goyal’s high-sounding claims go completely contrary to what the US President, the US Secretary of Agriculture, and the US Trade Representative have put out in their names on social media. It is 100% clear that Monday’s announcement of the deal at the urging of Prime Minister was for grabbing headlines—nothing more, nothing else,” Mr. Ramesh said in a post on X.

His Rajya Sabha colleague and Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said it was “deeply disturbing” that details of the agreement were disclosed by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in television interviews, while the Indian government didn’t share in Parliament.

In a post on X, Mr. Surjewala claimed that, as per statements of US officials, the agreement envisages zero tariffs on American exports to India and an 18% tariff on Indian exports to the U.S., which he described as contrary to India’s long-standing advocacy of special and differential treatment for developing countries.

The Congress leader also raised concerns over reported commitments to reduce tariffs on agricultural products and to import American goods worth $500 billion, including farm produce. Citing sharp increases in imports of U.S. cotton, soyabean oil and nuts in recent years, he warned of adverse consequences for Indian farmers.

Mr. Surjewala further flagged concerns over genetically modified crops and dairy imports, and demanded that the Prime Minister place the full text of the agreement before Parliament for debate and scrutiny.