“Order from US that India agreed to follow”: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi Slams India-US Interim Trade Agreement
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New Delhi, February 7:
Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of Parliament Priyanka Chaturvedi has strongly criticised the Centre over the newly announced India-US interim trade agreement, calling it “an order from Washington DC” rather than a balanced outcome of mutual negotiations.
The MP reacted after the United States and India issued a joint statement outlining a framework for an interim trade deal, which is expected to become a stepping stone toward a larger US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
Priyanka Chaturvedi Says Deal Looks Like a US “Order”
Sharing an excerpt from the joint statement released by the White House and India’s Commerce Ministry, Chaturvedi alleged that the agreement appears to follow what US President Donald Trump had earlier posted on Truth Social.
She wrote that the agreement is not a result of talks, but rather an “order” that India has accepted.
“A joint statement has been issued by the US and India. I’d reiterate this isn’t an outcome of talks but that of an order from the US that the Indian government has agreed to follow,” she stated.
US to Apply 18% Reciprocal Tariff on Indian Goods
According to the joint statement, the United States will apply a reciprocal tariff rate of 18% on Indian-origin goods in several sectors, including:
- Textiles and apparel
- Leather and footwear
- Plastic and rubber products
- Organic chemicals
- Home decor items
- Artisanal products
- Certain machinery
This tariff announcement has sparked concerns among industry observers, especially for export-driven sectors like textiles, leather, and handicrafts.
US to Remove Certain Aircraft Tariffs on India
The statement also mentioned that the US will remove tariffs on certain aircraft and aircraft parts imported from India.
These tariffs were earlier imposed under measures linked to national security threats.
India to Reduce or Remove Tariffs on US Goods
As part of the interim agreement, India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on:
All US Industrial Goods
This indicates a major step toward lowering trade barriers for American industrial exports.
Wide Range of Food and Agricultural Products
India is also expected to reduce tariffs on several US agricultural items, including:
- Dried distillers’ grains (DDGs)
- Red sorghum (animal feed)
- Tree nuts
- Fresh and processed fruits
- Soybean oil
- Wine and spirits
- Additional food products
India Plans $500 Billion Purchase of US Products Over 5 Years
One of the biggest highlights of the deal is India’s intention to purchase USD 500 billion worth of US products over the next five years.
This includes:
- US energy products
- Aircraft and aircraft parts
- Precious metals
- Technology products
- Coking coal
This announcement is likely to be politically and economically significant, as it reflects a major long-term trade commitment.
BTA Talks Launched by Modi and Trump in February 2025
The interim agreement is being positioned as a step toward a broader US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), which was launched after discussions between:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- US President Donald Trump
in February 2025.
Political Heat Expected Over Trade Terms
Chaturvedi’s sharp remarks suggest that the interim trade deal could soon become a major political talking point, especially as the agreement impacts key Indian export sectors and includes large-scale purchase commitments from India.
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