Congress asks PM Modi to hold India-US trade deal after Trump's 125.87% tariff hike on solar module

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed the India-US trade deal is "distinctly one-sided".

With the United States hiking tariff on solar module from India to 125.87 per cent, Congress on Wednesday once again asked the union government to put the India-US trade deal on hold while asking what does it say of President Donald Trump's commitment to the agreement "so much praised and applauded by his good friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The remarks came as the US Commerce Department announced the increase in tariffs accusing New Delhi of providing an "unfair" subsidy for manufacturing of solar photovoltaic modules. 

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said it was "quite extraordinary" that the US has imposed duty on imports of solar modules from India. 

"What does this say of President Trump’s commitment in letter and spirit to the India-US trade deal so much praised and applauded by his good friend in New Delhi as opening doors for India’s exports to the US?" he posted on 'X'.

He claimed the India-US trade deal is "distinctly one-sided". India’s imports from the US will be freed up but exports to the US will be subject to the whims and fancies of the US President, he said.

"There is only (one) way forward. India must be bold and put the deal on hold. The deal as it stands will be singularly disastrous for lakhs and lakhs of farmers across the country," he said.