'Decision under pressure from Trump?' Congress questions centre over US claim on India’s tariff cut

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Pawan Khera took a jab at PM Modi and the central government regarding Donald Trump's remarks about India's agreement to lower tariffs, questioning if the reported agreement was made "under pressure."
Following commerce minister Piyush Goyal's US visit, Khera expressed concerns about the reported deal's lack of transparency, noting that Indians are learning about it through the US President's statements. "140 crore Indians are getting to know our own government's Trade Policy through the US President - Trump. Has the GOI taken a decision to cut Tariffs under pressure by PM Modi's close friend - Mr. Donald Trump? Has Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is in the United States to apparently negotiate a Trade Deal, buckled under pressure and signed on the dotted line dictated by 'Howdy Modi's close compatriot Namaste Trump'?" Khera said in the statement.
"What does the fresh statement by the US President mean for India where he said that, "India has agreed to cut their tariffs ... way down now because somebody's finally exposing them for what they have done."? Why is this 'deal' if any shrouded under a veil of secrecy?" he added.

Khera also criticised the government over negotiations, pointing out how Canada and Mexico secured a temporary pause from tariff imposition through diplomatic talks.
"India-US have had a stable, strong and a valued strategic comprehensive relationship, built over decades of mutual cooperation. Dr Manmohan Singh and George W Bush have together navigated the details of the historic Indo-US deal, which was mutually beneficial. Dr Singh had virtually risked his own government's political future for the same, but that was in national interests and end India's Civil Nuclear apartheid," he said.
"Today, PM Modi is doing just the opposite, his government seems to know-tow the line set by Mr. Trump. Just yesterday, at a Media Conclave in India, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that Indian Farm sector cannot remain closed. Today, we have come one step forward, where a Union Minister is on the US soil and we are we are being told by none less than the US President, that India has agreed to cutting its tariffs and India being 'exposed,'" he added.
Khera alleged that the NDA government's decision to reduce tariffs was anticipated, given their previous signals even before PM Modi's scheduled US visit in February 2025. He outlined recent government actions, including reduced tariffs on American products such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles, bourbon whisky, and Washington apples, with ongoing negotiations for various other items.
Further continuing his attack, Khera questioned whether PM Modi had "surrendered" the interests of Indian MSMEs to benefit specific business interests.
The row started when Donald Trump criticised India's tariffs in a televised address, claiming it was nearly impossible to sell products to India due to "high tariffs." Then, he announced that India had agreed to reduce its tariffs significantly.
From the White House, Trump declared, "India charges us massive tariffs. Massive. You can't even sell anything in India...They have agreed, by the way; they want to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they have done."
Meanwhile ANI sources indicated that PM Modi and President Trump have agreed to advance negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement, finalised in February 2025, aimed at improving market access and reducing trade barriers.