Opposition leaders, including Priyanka Chaturvedi, Ujjwal Raman Singh, and Pramod Tiwari, raised concerns over the India–US trade deal, questioning reduced tariffs, oil import commitments, and potential impact on India’s sovereignty
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, on Monday. Pic/PTI
Opposition leaders on Tuesday raised concerns over the India–United States (US) trade deal after Washington claimed the agreement would allow it to export more agricultural products to India and that New Delhi would stop purchasing oil from Russia.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) lawmaker Priyanka Chaturvedi claimed the agreement would enable it to export more agricultural products and that New Delhi would stop purchasing oil from Russia.
While welcoming the reduction in tariffs on Indian goods, she expressed reservations, stating that the agreement does not appear to be a “win-win situation” for all stakeholders.
“The US–India trade agreement was important. It had been stalled for so long, and India had become the country with the highest tariffs. They’ve now brought them down to 18 per cent, which I welcome. But the way we have brought tariffs and trade barriers down to zero. We agree to buy Venezuelan oil, stop buying Iranian oil, and stop buying Russian oil. Then, the trade barriers on agricultural goods have been removed from our markets. I will still wait for the details, but it is not what the Indians expected,” the Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) told ANI.
“What has come from Trump’s side doesn’t seem like a win-win situation at all,” added the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader.
#WATCH | Delhi: On India-US trade agreement, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "The US-India trade agreement was important. It had been stalled for so long, and India had become the country with the highest tariffs. They've now brought them down to 18%, which I… pic.twitter.com/zudoVMIbg3
— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2026
Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh questioned Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi over the reduction of tariffs to 18 per cent by the US President Donald Trump, asking why it was not announced by an Indian government official. Referring to Trump’s claim that India had agreed to stop purchasing oil from Russia, the Congress MP raised concerns over India’s sovereignty.
“We were forced. If the PM had announced it in Parliament… Trump’s announcement of the deal means that he had already decided that the agreement would happen only if India purchased oil from Venezuela. There has been a compromise with India’s interests. The Prime Minister and the BJP government have made the nation bow down, and we are paying the price. We are breaking away from the decades-old ties with Russia,” Singh told ANI.
India-US Trade Deal: India’s capital appears to have shifted to Washington, says Congress MP
“If oil is cheaper in Venezuela, Iran or Russia, we should have the autonomy to choose. We are not under somebody, but today, when the US President wants, he stops the war and makes us buy Venezuelan oil. This is like mortgaging India’s foreign policy,” he added.
Another Congress MP, Pramod Tiwari, urged PM Modi to address the issue in Parliament.
“Looking at recent events, it seems as if India’s capital has shifted from New Delhi to Washington, DC, and PM Modi has gone on a long vacation. We are learning about all of India’s decisions from Washington, DC, and its President Donald Trump, who is making the announcements. Prime Minister, your silence is troubling us. This is against the self-respect of the country, against its sovereignty, and against its glorious history. Take action and speak the truth; we want to hear it from you, in the Indian Parliament, and in the country’s capital, Delhi,” Tiwari said.
On Monday, President Trump announced that the US and India “have agreed to a trade deal”, with Washington reducing the reciprocal tariff from 25 per cent to 18 per cent “out of friendship and respect” for PM Modi. He also claimed that PM Modi had agreed to “stop buying Russian oil” and to significantly increase purchases from the US.
Following Trump’s social media post, PM Modi confirmed the deal on X, saying he was delighted that “Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent”.
“Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement,” PM Modi stated.
“President Trump’s leadership is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for peace,” he further said.
(With ANI inputs)
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