'Farmers, manufacturers' interests being compromised?': Cong attacks Modi after Trump's 'tariff cut' claim

In the video shared by Ramesh on X, Trump is heard saying, 'Our country, from an economic standpoint and a financial standpoint and a trade standpoint, has been absolutely ripped off by almost every country in the world -- Canada, Mexico, and then you just go right down the line.'

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government on Saturday faced accusations of “surrendering” national interest before the United States, as President Donald Trump claimed India agreeing to cut tariff, prompting the Congress to urge the Prime Minister to take Parliament into confidence while insisting that sectors, including MSME sectors, will be badly impacted.

The main Opposition party alleged that Indians were getting to know their own government's trade policy through the US President and asked whether Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who returned to New Delhi on Saturday from the US where he went for trade negotiations, succumbed to pressure exerted by “Modi’s close friend Donald Trump”.

In his third attack on India in a month on trade issues, Trump said India charges the US massive tariffs and they cannot even sell anything in India. “It is restrictive. We do very little business inside. 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,” he said.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) and Rajya Sabha Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh asked the government to spell out what they had agreed to at a time Goyal was negotiating with the US. “Are the interests of Indian farmers and of Indian manufacturing being compromised? The PM must take Parliament into confidence when it resumes on March 10,” he posted on ‘X’.

Addressing a press conference, Congress Media and Publicity Department Chairperson Pawan Khera claimed that the Modi government's trade policy is “disastrous” and the Indian economy, which has “already failed” the Make in India and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ schemes, would be further crushed by the weight of the Prime Minister's “surrender”.

Khera questioned why Modi “surrendered India’s national and strategic interests” and what Goyal was doing in the US when Trump announced that India has agreed to reduce tariffs. He said higher US tariffs could push cheap Chinese goods into India, harming local manufacturers. Textiles, pharmaceuticals, and auto components, medical devices face costlier realignments and supply chain disruptions, he said.

“Isn’t suffering reciprocal tariffs better than reducing own tariffs, after reciprocal tariffs have been announced? Who have you taken into confidence before taking this strategic decision? Union Cabinet? CCEA? Parliament? Parties? If Mexico and Canada can pick up the phone and speak to Mr. Trump, then why not you?" he said.

He also asked, “Why is this deal, if any, shrouded under a veil of secrecy? Has the Modi government surrendered the interests of the MSMEs to benefit select crony friends. Are the interests of crony friends more important for you than the interests of Indian farmers and the manufacturing sector?”

Recalling that India and the US had a “stable, strong and valued strategic comprehensive relationship” and referring to Indo-US nuclear, he said Modi is doing just the opposite of his predecessor Manmohan Singh who even risked his government to finalise the nuclear deal.

He said they would not be surprised if the Modi government has agreed to reduce the tariffs, as it has been signaling that they will eventually do it, even before Modi’s visit to the US in February, while referring to lowering of import duties on high-capacity motorcycles for US brands like Harley-Davidson and slashing tariffs on American bourbon whisky to 100% from 150%.

He also said the government has also reduced import duties on Washington apples from 50% to 15% and negotiations on reducing tariffs on horticulture products like walnuts, cranberries and dairy.