India Faces Backlash Over New Trade Deal with U.S. Amid Trump’s Tariff Push

As countries around the world adjust to the new global trade realities shaped by U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff measures, India has come under sharp criticism over its newly announced trade agreement with the United States.

Critics argue that the deal amounts to a surrender to Washington, while New Delhi is making strong efforts to defend and justify the agreement.

The deal, announced earlier this month, has sparked concern among India’s powerful farmers’ unions. They fear that cheaper American imports could expose local producers to intense competition in a country where more than 700 million people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Details of the agreement remain unclear. Apart from a joint statement and a White House fact sheet, little information has been made public.

However, New Delhi has said it aims to finalize an interim arrangement by the end of March. Analysts warn that other provisions of the deal could also create instability in the future.

Trade expert Abhijit Das told AFP, “Nothing is certain in the Trump era.”

He added that even if the agreement is signed within weeks, it may remain effective only until Trump decides to impose additional tariffs, citing “any perceived inconsistencies.”

The most controversial pledge involves India’s announced plan to purchase $500 billion worth of goods from the United States over five years. In contrast, India’s total imports from the U.S. in the last fiscal year stood at approximately $45 billion.

According to Ajay Srivastava of the New Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative, raising annual imports to $100 billion would be “unrealistic.”