U.S. President Donald Trump presents a gift to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House in Washington, DC, on Friday, February 14, 2025. / IANS

As India and the United States made significant strides towards normalizing ties with the leaders of the two countries finding common ground and calling an end to economic battles and threats, reactions poured in from across Indian politics and economic experts.

Prime Minister Modi announced the new deal on X and expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians.  

Modi remarked, "When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation."

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Expressing joy over the conversation with Trump, he also said, "Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%."

India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar hailed the agreement as key to ushering growth in both economies and strengthening India's 'Make in India' efforts.

Dr. Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to the U.S., remarked on X, "The opportunities in our economic engagement are truly vast, and we are confident of realising them. A robust economic relationship is the strongest foundation for our strategic partnership."

His words were echoed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who described the agreement as a "big day for India-U.S. relations".

“I congratulate PM @narendramodi and President @realDonaldTrump for this historic deal, which will elevate our strategic partnership and greatly benefit both nations and their people,” he remarked on X.

The Union Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal, described the deal as a "historic turning point that will reshape India–U.S. relations and accelerate our (India's) journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047".

Goyal also said, "This agreement unlocks unprecedented opportunities for farmers, MSMEs, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers to Make in India for the world, Design in India for the world, and Innovate in India for the world. It will help India get technology from the US."

The deal was viewed with skepticism by India's opposition parties. The Indian National Congress, through its official X handle, questioned the government on Trump's claim that the deal was done 'on Modi's request'.

Additionally, INC also questioned the Modi government over Trump's claim that 'India will move to reduce tariff and non tariff barriers against the United States to zero', thereby allegedly agreeing to completely open the Indian market for America. "This will impact Indian industry, traders and farmers," it added.

The Congress party also cornered the government over President Trump's claims that India will lower and eventually stop oil purchases from Russia and the claim of India buying more goods from America, which, according to the INC, would hurt India's 'Make in India' ambitions.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh argued that the United States seems to have some leverage against Prime Minister Modi. He alleged, "He (Trump) announced the halt of Op Sindoor from Washington DC. He announced the updates on India’s oil purchases from Russia and Venezuela from Washington. He’s now announced an India-U.S. Trade Deal from Washington, the full details of which are awaited."

“It appears Mr. Modi has capitulated finally. Surely this cannot be the father of all deals. In Washington, clearly Mogambo Khush Hai,” the veteran Congress leader added.

A key point of questioning by the opposition was Trump hinting at extensive agricultural imports from the United States to India.

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, backed Trump's claims and said, "New US-India deal will export more American farm products to India's massive market, lifting prices, and pumping cash into rural America."

The INC quoted Rollins and said, "The US Secretary of Agriculture's statement makes it clear that the Modi government has entered into this deal by ignoring the interests of Indian farmers." The Indian National Congress further alleged the move will "harm farmers in India" and "Indian farmers will now be forced to compete with American farmers in their own country."

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