India will receive benefits related to textile-related trade, similar to those extended to Bangladesh under its trade arrangement with the United States, said Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
Goyal’s
response came as he addressed concerns that the Indian textiles industry would be hit by duty differentials vis-a-vis Bangladesh after the neighbouring country signed a deal with the US.
The US and Bangladesh signed an agreement on February 9, following which the reciprocal tariffs imposed on Dhaka were reduced to 19 percent from the previously announced 20 percent. Additionally, zero-tariff access for special textile and apparel products made with US cotton and man-made fibre was provided under the arrangement.
Responding to the concerns, Goyal said, “India also has the same facility and India will also get it. Right now, our framework agreement is being made. When the interim agreement is finalised, then you will get to see this in the fine print.”
#WATCH | Delhi: On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, “… He spread another lie in the Parliament that Bangladesh has got more benefits from the trade than India. Just as Bangladesh has a facility that if raw material is purchased from America, then if… pic.twitter.com/JSL1hjQdNc
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2026
The Union Minister further directly slammed the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and said, “He spread another lie in the Parliament that Bangladesh has got more benefits from the trade than India. Just as Bangladesh has a facility that if raw material is purchased from America, then if you process it and make cloth and export it, then it will be available at zero reciprocal tariff.”
Goyal further asked Rahul Gandhi to apologise to the farmers of India, fishermen, workers working in MSME and Vishwakarmas.
“Indian farmers will also get the benefit that many such products will be exported to America, the European Union, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, and Australia in large quantities,” Goyal said.
He added that the Rs 5 lakh crore that we export today will become an export of Rs 10 lakh crore. “Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the farmers of India, fishermen, workers working in MSME and Vishwakarmas.”
As per SBI Research, the US imports around USD 7.5 billion of textiles from India and around the same quantity from Bangladesh.
India and the US also finalised an interim trade deal framework last week, whose fine print is expected sometime in March.
