Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:14pm on 03 Feb 2026,Tuesday India Global
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal defended the India-US trade deal Tuesday, stating India secured the "best possible" agreement compared to neighboring countries under PM Modi's leadership. Goyal explained the US announced tariff reductions first because they imposed reciprocal tariffs initially, which dropped from 50% to 18%. He emphasized agriculture and dairy sectors remain protected, countering Opposition claims that farmers' interests were compromised. Goyal highlighted benefits for MSMEs, textiles, IT, and leather sectors. He sharply criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for "disgraceful behaviour" during Lok Sabha disruptions, preventing government presentations. Goyal credited Modi's personal relationship with President Trump for finalizing the deal after months of negotiations between both teams.
