Jairam Ramesh Urges Modi to Reject Proposed US Trade Deal

The criticism follows the arrival of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New Delhi for high-level talks with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. Ramesh contends that the February 2026 interim agreement, which promised a reduction in US tariffs on Indian exports from 25% to 18%, was effectively hollowed out by a subsequent US Supreme Court ruling against reciprocal tariff strategies. He asserts that the US is leveraging ongoing investigations into alleged unfair trade practices to coerce India into signing an unfavorable pact.

Under the proposed terms, India would slash tariffs on American industrial and agricultural goods while committing to import $500 billion in US products over five years. Ramesh highlighted that farmers in states including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra face direct economic harm from these concessions. He urged the Prime Minister to look toward Malaysia’s recent rejection of a similar US deal, characterizing the current proposal as a lopsided arrangement rather than a balanced partnership. The Congress leader pointedly challenged the government to prioritize national interests over personal diplomacy with President Donald Trump, questioning what protections exist if Washington continues to impose tariffs despite formal agreements.