Kamal Ghorui
The United States has revised its factsheet on the recently announced “historic trade deal” with India, removing a reference to pulses, changing the wording relating to the $500 billion purchase “commitment” and more. The two countries announced reaching a trade deal last week, after which the White House released a factsheet on Tuesday, describing what it called the “path forward.” In the earlier version of the document, Washington had said, “India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, certain pulses, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products.” The updated factsheet no longer carries any mention of pulses. In another change, the fact releated to India’s proposed purchase of goods from the United States has also been modified. The earlier text had stated that India was “committed” to make a purchase of $500 billion from the country, now it has been changed to “intend.” It said, “India committed to buy more American products and purchase over $500 billion of US energy, information and communication technology, agricultural, coal, and other products.” However, the revised version has removed the mention of agricultural goods from the text. It now reads, “India intends to buy more American products and purchase over $500 billion of US energy, information and communication technology, coal, and other products.”Furthermore, White House’s updated factsheet also removed the text relating to India’s removal of its digital services taxes. Earlier the text said, “India will remove its digital services taxes and committed to negotiate a robust set of bilateral digital trade rules that address discriminatory or burdensome practices and other barriers to digital trade, including rules that prohibit the imposition of customs duties on electronic transmissions.” It now states, “India committed to negotiate a robust set of bilateral digital trade rules that address discriminatory or burdensome practices and other barriers to digital trade.”The two nations reached an interim trade agreement after almost a year of negotiations that began February 2025. Under the plan, India is set to gain from duties reduced to 18% from 50% across a range of exports, including textiles and garments, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber goods, organic chemicals, home decor products, artisanal items and select machinery categories. The agreement was announced last week following a telephone conversation between PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, during which the two leaders settled on a framework for an Interim Agreement. India and US were engaged in multiple rounds of trade talks in recent months after negotiations faltered when the Trump imposed 50% tariffs on imports from New Delhi. Of the total, a 25% duty was introduced in August, with Washington alleging that India was fueling Russia’s “war machine” in Ukraine through its purchases.
