New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Modi government over the Indo US trade deal, calling it a surrender forced under pressure. The party said the agreement compromises the interests of farmers, the middle class, and small and medium enterprises.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC office, party spokesperson and AICC Media and Publicity Chairman Pawan Khera said the government failed to act with transparency. He alleged the Union Commerce Minister revealed little while concealing key facts related to the agreement.
Khera said the arrangement reflects pressure from Washington rather than balanced negotiation. He argued that trade agreements require dialogue and consent, not coercion. According to him, the government appears to function in what he described as an American time zone.
He raised concerns over a reported plan to increase imports from the United States from around 40 to 42 billion dollars annually to nearly 500 billion dollars over five years. He questioned what products India would import at such scale and warned that agriculture stands at risk. He said Indian markets face the threat of turning into a dumping ground for foreign goods.
Khera noted that more than 40 percent of Indian exports to the US already entered duty free before the deal. These include electronics, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products, tea, coffee, and spices. He warned that lowering tariffs on US agricultural and food imports would harm Indian farmers.
The Congress spokesperson criticised conflicting statements from senior ministers. He said public comments by the Commerce Minister, Finance Minister, and National Security Adviser reflected confusion and lack of coordination. He added that such inconsistency weakens public confidence.
Khera also questioned rising tariffs. He said India earlier paid about 3 percent duty, which later rose sharply. Even after reduction, tariffs now stand at around 18 percent, leaving exporters under strain.
Calling the deal a betrayal of long held economic principles, Khera said the government prioritised corporate interests over national welfare. He concluded that the agreement weakens sovereignty and places avoidable burdens on citizens.
