The Congress on Tuesday demanded that the Modi government take Parliament into confidence and place the texts of both the EU and US trade deals on the table of both Houses for debate.
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, based on information US President Donald Trump provided, it is “abundantly clear” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “completely surrendered.” Ramesh recalled that a year earlier Modi had visited the White House after Trump’s re-election, with India-US relations appearing strong and trade talks beginning soon after. He said relations began to decline after President Trump announced the halt to Operation Sindoor on the evening of May 10, 2025, and subsequently embraced Pakistan and Field Marshal Asim Munir, “exposing the hollowness of Mr. Modi’s huglomacy.”
Ramesh noted that President Trump announced the trade deal very late Indian time and charged that, from Trump’s account, Modi had “completely surrendered” and appeased the US president, leaving India diminished. With Parliament in session, Ramesh insisted the texts of the EU and US trade deals be tabled and debated, especially given a statement from US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins claiming India has liberalised agricultural imports from the United States.
Reacting to Trump’s announcement that the US and India agreed to a trade deal, Ramesh earlier said it appears the prime minister has “capitulated finally” and that this “cannot be the father of all deals,” adding the quip “clearly Mogambo Khush Hai.” The Congress demanded details, saying India has a right to know the terms. The party pointed out Trump’s claim that the deal was done “on Modi’s request” and quoted Trump as saying India will move to reduce reciprocal tariffs on US goods to zero, suggesting India may have agreed to fully open its market to the US—affecting industry, traders and farmers.
The Congress asked what protections were secured for farmers and whether the government agreed to stop buying oil from Russia and instead buy from the US and Venezuela, as suggested in reports. The party also questioned implications for the “Make in India” initiative if India commits to buying more US goods.
Trump said after a phone call with PM Modi that Washington would reduce the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18% from 25%, and PM Modi said he was pleased that “made-in-India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent.” This development follows the India-EU free trade agreement sealed on January 27, described as the “mother of all deals,” aimed at creating a market of two billion people and advancing a five-year agenda linking trade and defence to protect the rules-based world order.
