U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a new trade deal that would reduce tariffs on Indian goods from 25 percent to 18 percent. The preliminary draft of the India-U.S. trade understanding has sparked intense debate across India, with opposition parties raising concerns over its terms and potential impact.

The Indian National Congress and left-wing parties have strongly criticized the deal, arguing that it offers no real benefit to India. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera described it as a surrender to the Trump administration, warning that India could become a dumping ground for American products, harming farmers and small industries. He also objected to the inclusion of a U.S. monitoring mechanism on India’s oil imports, particularly regarding Russian crude.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh echoed these concerns, noting that the U.S. could reimpose the 25 percent tariff if India resumed direct or indirect oil imports from Russia. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also labeled the agreement as detrimental to the interests of workers, farmers, and the general public.