NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing intense domestic backlash following the signing of a major interim trade deal with the Trump administration this February. While the government hails the agreement as a strategic victory to lower American tariffs from 50% to 18%, opposition leaders are calling it a “total surrender.”
Critics, led by figures like Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, argue that India made lopsided concessions. The deal drastically cuts import duties on American cotton and corn, which experts warn could devastate millions of local farmers. Furthermore, leaked details suggesting a phase-out of Russian oil imports have sparked concerns over India’s “strategic autonomy” and energy security.
The administration maintains that the move was necessary to avoid a crippling trade war and to secure a critical geopolitical alliance against regional threats. However, with India agreeing to massive purchases of U.S. defense equipment and energy to narrow the trade deficit, the debate over whether this was a fair exchange or a forced retreat continues to intensify.
