No deal but U.S. steal: Congress’s dig at Centre over Indo-U.S. trade agreement

The Congress on Wednesday (January 11, 2026) took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-U.S. interim trade agreement, saying the deal is a steal by the “PM’s good friend in Washington” and reflects an “abject failure” of our “political huglomacy” as well as economic diplomacy.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said no matter what spin the “PM and his lie-brigade” may give, the hard reality is that the U.S. has extracted more from India than it has conceded.

“It is significant that a number of independent analysts and commentators — who have not been Modi-unfriendly — have criticised the India-US trade deal as a capitulation, an asymmetrical set of commitments, a sell-out, and a humiliating cave-in,” Mr. Ramesh said.

“Whatever the spin that the PM and his lie-brigade may give, the hard reality is that the US has extracted more from India than it has conceded. This is inspite of Mr. Modi’s aggressive wooing of President Trump, including campaigning for him in September 2019,” the Congress leader said.

PM Modi also managed to be among the first to greet the re-elected President Trump in February 2025, he pointed out.

The Prime Minister’s public demonstrations of his personal friendship with President Trump have not yielded the desired results, Mr. Ramesh said.

President Trump, too has given full expression to his friendship with Modi, but while doing so has dealt India big blows, he claimed.

“This is an abject failure of our political huglomacy and economic diplomacy. The spin will, of course, continue. But facts are facts. The trade deal is a steal — by the PM’s good friend in Washington who has also claimed close to hundred times that he halted Operation Sindoor on May 10, 2025,” Mr. Ramesh said.

The Congress on Tuesday (February 10, 2026) claimed the India-U.S. trade deal is not a “calibrated opening”, but a “coerced opening” and India has been “forced to concede” more than what it has got.

Last week, India and the U.S. announced in a joint statement the framework for an interim agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade. Under this, the U.S. has agreed to reduce the 25% reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18%.

It has already eliminated the punitive 25% tariff on India, which was imposed in August last year for purchasing Russian crude.

The Congress has alleged that the interim Indo-U.S. trade pact is “not a deal but a surrender” of the country’s self-esteem and interests, and is a betrayal of India and its people.