New Delhi: A report has surfaced claiming that India had conveyed to Washington that New Delhi was willing to wait till the end of Donald Trump’s term
in the White House to finalise a trade deal, standing up to the US government that India won’t be bullied by Trump or his top aides into a trade pact. According to Bloomberg report, India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval in September last year told Secretary of State Marco Rubio that India will wait till Donald Trump’s current term ends in the White House to seal a trade pact but it won’t be bullied into one by him or his administration. The report has surfaced two days after Donald Trump announced India-US have agreed to a trade deal, adding that Washington would reduce reciprocal tariffs on India, from 25 per cent to 18 per cent and also claiming that New Delhi will stop buying Russian oil. Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after Trump’s post on Truth Social on Monday thanked US President for reducing tariffs on Indian exports to the United States but did not mention anything about Russian oil purchases or literally informing that India and US have sealed a trade deal. On Tuesday, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal addressed the media, confirming that the two nations have finalised a trade deal, emphasising that America will reduce tariffs on Indian exports to 18 per cent but he also didn’t say anything about New Delhi not purchasing oil from Russia. Piyush Goyal said that the two sides were finalising final details before a read out is issued detailing who gains what from whom in this big trade deal and is likely to be released in a week.
Govt Responds in Lok Sabha To Oppn's Criticism on India-US Trade Deal
After several opposition parties asked the government to make a statement in Parliament following the announcement of the deal by Donald Trump on Monday evening and later Prime Minister Narendra Modi's social media message in this regard, the Centre on Wednesday assured the House that the country's core sensitivities in food and agriculture have been fully safeguarded in the India-US trade deal, and the pact will enhance export competitiveness in the American market.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made a statement on the trade deal first in the Lok Sabha and later in the Rajya Sabha amid disruptions by opposition MPs, who sought clarifications but were not allowed by the Chair.
On Tuesday, Lok Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments over a government-opposition face-off in the wake of certain remarks by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
With inputs from PTI
