New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday sharply criticised the recently announced India-US trade deal, alleging that the Narendra Modi government has compromised the interests of Indian farmers to secure the agreement.
The opposition party’s strong reaction followed a statement from US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who praised the deal for enabling greater exports of American agricultural products into India’s vast market. Rollins highlighted that the pact would help lift prices for US farmers and inject more revenue into rural America, describing it as a significant win delivered under President Donald Trump’s leadership.
“In 2024, America’s agricultural trade deficit with India was $1.3 billion. India’s growing population is an important market for American agricultural products and today’s deal will go a long way to reducing this deficit,” she noted.
In a post on X, Congress argued that this explicit emphasis on benefiting American farmers revealed the true nature of the deal. It contend that the Modi government has effectively opened India’s agricultural market to US competition, disregarding the welfare of domestic farmers. “This will harm farmers in India,” the post said, adding that “Indian farmers will now be forced to compete with American farmers in their own country.”
The party described the move as “nothing less than a direct attack on Indian farmers.”
In a pointed challenge to the PM, Congress asserted: “Narendra Modi must answer — why did he trade away the interests of India’s farmers?”
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has said:
👉 American farmers’ products will now be sold in the Indian market. This will bring money into rural America.
👉 India’s market is extremely important for US farmers. Through this deal, Trump has ensured benefits for…
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 3, 2026
In another post, Congress demanded full transparency on the terms of the agreement, including any concessions on tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and market access in sensitive sectors like agriculture. It has called for the government to place the complete details of the deal before Parliament and explain its implications for Indian agriculture, industry, and traders.
The grand old party also took a jibe at the PM, noting that the announcement by US President Trump stated that the trade deal is being done ‘on Modi’s request’.
It fired four questions at the government over the deal:
Just like the ceasefire, the announcement of the trade deal was also made by US President Trump. It has been stated that the trade deal is being done 'on Modi's request'.
• Trump says that India will move to reduce tariff and non tariff barriers against the United States to…
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 3, 2026
The agreement was announced by US President Donald Trump on Monday following a phone conversation with PM Modi. Trump stated on Truth Social that the US would reduce its reciprocal tariff on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, effective immediately. In exchange, he claimed India would move to eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers on US products, cease purchases of Russian oil, and commit to buying substantial volumes of American energy, technology, agricultural goods, coal, and other products—potentially exceeding $500 billion.
PM Modi responded positively on X, expressing delight that “Made in India” products would now face a reduced tariff of 18%. He thanked President Trump on behalf of India’s 1.4 billion people and highlighted the mutual benefits of cooperation between the world’s two largest democracies.