Piyush Goyal Calls India–US Pact ‘Best Deal in Region’; Attacks Rahul Gandhi

The India-US trade deal announced by President Donald Trump and confirmed by PM Narendra Modi has sparked debate in New Delhi, as ministers praise its benefits while key figures across politics and industry seek clarity on its real impact, specific tariff changes, and how promises on Russian oil, agriculture, and massive import targets will play out in practice.

Trump has declared that India will cut tariffs on US products to zero and pledged that New Delhi will buy $500 billion worth of American goods, even as the Indian government has not yet released the full text of the agreement, leaving analysts to reconcile these sweeping statements with the more modest tariff revisions and sectoral assurances confirmed so far.

India-US trade deal tariff changes and headline figures

What is confirmed at this stage is a reduction in US tariffs on Indian exports, with the American administration lowering reciprocal duties from 25% to 18% with immediate effect, and removing the extra 25% penalty that had been imposed because India continued purchasing Russian oil, effectively rolling back the combined 50% tariff that had applied to Indian goods since August 2025.

Opposition parties and trade experts are now examining how this 18% rate compares with other Asian competitors; economists point out that the figure, though higher than pre-Trump levels, remains slightly better than the 19% and 20% tariffs currently imposed on countries such as Indonesia and Bangladesh, which means Indian exporters still enjoy a relative edge in sectors like textiles and engineering.

India-US trade deal questions over 'zero' tariffs and Russian oil

Despite these confirmed changes, controversy intensified after Trump unilaterally announced that India would "move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO", a statement that has led Opposition leaders to ask whether this would create an uneven playing field where Indian products face 18% duties in the US while American goods enter the Indian market without any tariff burden.

The unease deepened when Trump further asserted that PM Modi had signed up to a "BUY AMERICAN" commitment worth over $500 billion, covering US energy, technology, agriculture, and coal supplies, even though India's total annual imports from the United States currently stand near $45 billion, a gap that many economists describe as extremely difficult to bridge in the short term.

India-US trade deal import scale and Opposition concerns

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor highlighted the gulf between current trade levels and Trump's projection by pointing out that India's entire import bill from all countries is around $700 billion, and asking, "So, do we stop buying from every other country?", a pointed question that captures the scepticism about whether a $500 billion commitment is realistic or compatible with India's existing global trade relationships.

Another contentious aspect involves Trump's claim that Modi has "agreed to stop buying Russian Oil" and will instead boost purchases from the US and US-controlled Venezuela, a move that, if implemented, could reshape India's strategic energy relationships, even though Russian officials have reportedly said there is "no word" yet from New Delhi about halting these oil imports.

Issue Current / Claimed Figure

Previous effective US tariff on Indian goods 50% (25% base + 25% penalty)
New US tariff on Indian goods 18%
Annual Indian imports from US ≈ $45 billion
Trump's claimed "BUY AMERICAN" pledge Over $500 billion
India's total global imports ≈ $700 billion

India-US trade deal impact on agriculture and sensitive sectors

The agricultural part of the India-US trade deal is drawing the sharpest scrutiny because farming supports nearly half of India's population and contributes about 18% to national GDP, and the Indian government has often described agriculture as a "red line" it would not allow any trade pact to dilute or compromise.

In contrast, US agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins has hailed the agreement as a success that will liberalise agricultural imports into India, a statement that raises questions about the exact market access granted, even as leaders from the BJP-led NDA have celebrated Modi as a "generational leader" who has "made history", and Rahul Gandhi has alleged that Modi has "sold the country".

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh has demanded that the detailed text of the trade deal be tabled and debated in Parliament, and although Union minister JP Nadda has assured members that a formal statement and full discussion will take place, the government had not yet published the final terms by Tuesday afternoon, prolonging uncertainty for farmers, dairy producers, and allied sectors.

India-US trade deal statements by Piyush Goyal

Amid the growing questions, Union minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal has stepped out as the main government voice, first addressing reporters on Tuesday afternoon and later appearing in a televised video message, presenting the India-US trade deal as a major victory for India while at the same time acknowledging that several technical aspects still remain under negotiation.

Goyal said he had planned to share detailed points inside Parliament but held back, saying "but you saw the ugly scenes witnessed in the Lok Sabha today", before adding, "I condemn Rahul Gandhi for what happened", in reference to a ruckus over the Leader of Opposition attempting to quote from an unpublished book by former army chief Gen MM Naravane.

In his video address, Goyal stressed that the agreement is not yet fully finalised, stating, "We are still in the final stages of negotiations. We will be issuing a joint statement as soon as the final understanding of the deal is inked, and technical details are finalised," while also promising, "I can assure every Indian that the details of this deal will make every Indian proud."

Goyal insisted that the pact would have wide benefits across society, saying, "This deal will help everyone, all 140 crore Indians, from farmers to fisherfolk," though he refrained from disclosing line-by-line provisions, instead repeating that both sides are ironing out the final clauses and that a comprehensive joint statement is expected soon after the legal text is locked.

India-US trade deal sectors Goyal claims will benefit

While offering broad praise rather than specifics, Goyal argued that "PM Modi used his friendship with Donald Trump to get the best deal among all the countries in the region, all countries that we compete with," and recalled the situation before negotiations, when India was facing 50% tariffs, farmers were under pressure, and marine exporters had serious concerns about their access to the US market.

Goyal said, "We hadn't been able to get this deal for months, but PM Modi used his friendship to seal such a great deal, which will immensely benefit India," and sought to reassure rural communities by adding, "PM Modi has always looked out for the agriculture and dairy sectors, and he ensured that nothing bad happens to them."

Continuing that line, Goyal reiterated, "PM Modi ensured that India's sensitive sectors - agriculture and dairy - were safeguarded and given attention in the deal," and added that "Fishermen who export seafood celebrated in all coastal regions after the deal. This is a sign of how this deal heralds a bright future for India," while also naming engineering, textiles, marine products, and gems and jewellery as key gainers.

India-US trade deal political clash over Rahul Gandhi

As his media outreach progressed, Goyal shifted focus from trade details to political confrontation, attacking the Opposition and especially the Congress leader, saying, "Rahul Gandhi is a negative person. He has a negative mentality. And any leader who joins hands with him - be it those from DMK or TMC - doesn't like a deal which will benefit so many sectors."

Goyal went further, asking, "Rahul Gandhi ko kya mirchi lagti hai? (Why does he feel the burn?) Does Rahul Gandhi have a problem with the country's growth?" and describing Rahul's outlook as "anti-national", before urging voters to seek accountability from "Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Stalin, Kanimozhi, Akhilesh Yadav", leaders from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, all states heading for elections within a year.

These statements underline how the India-US trade deal has already become a campaign issue, with the ruling alliance portraying it as a strategic and economic win, while Opposition figures frame it as a potentially risky bargain that could weaken India's negotiating position on tariffs, energy choices, and protections promised to farmers and dairy producers.

Alongside the tariff revisions and energy claims, reports suggest India has already exited the Chabahar port project in Iran due to US sanctions, and Trump, who says he is overseeing interim leadership in Venezuela, has expressed plans to let the US and its partners access that country's large oil reserves, moves that could tighten Washington's role in India's future energy supplies if New Delhi follows through on any shift away from Russian oil.

With the government yet to disclose the complete text, the India-US trade deal currently sits at a stage where key tariff numbers and some sectoral protections are known, Trump's ambitious claims on "zero" tariffs, Russian oil and $500 billion imports are hotly disputed, and both supporters and critics in India are pressing for a transparent parliamentary debate before the agreement is formally inked.