Congress says U.S. trade deal ‘mortgages’ farmer interests, energy security and digital autonomy

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “surrendering” before the United States, the Congress on Monday (February 16, 2026) claimed that the India-U.S. interim trade agreement undermines India’s energy security, data and digital autonomy, livelihood of farmers and economic self-reliance.

The principal Opposition party said it is ready to debate with the ruling party at a place and time of their choice.

“I have been instructed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi ji to place the facts,” party general secretary Randeep Surjewala said, adding that he was ready to debate with them “in the BJP office even today”.

Mr. Surjewala was responding to the challenge posed by Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (February 15) for “Mr Gandhi to debate the trade deal with the chief of the BJP Yuva Morcha (youth wing)”.

At the sovereign’s cost

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Surjewala said trade agreements must be based on parity and mutual interest, not at the cost of national sovereignty.

“National interest cannot be mortgaged under the guise of a trade deal,” he said, describing the agreement as a “one-sided and unequal” pact that compromises India’s core economic priorities.

Mr. Surjewala alleged that the framework agreement of February 6 opened the door to duty-free imports of American agricultural and food products, which he said would “devastate” the livelihoods of crores of farmers across the country.

He argued that large-scale imports of products such as maize, sorghum, soybean, cotton and processed foods would depress domestic prices and hurt Indian producers.

Disparity in production

Citing production data, he said India produces about 43 million metric tonnes of maize annually compared to the United States’ 425 million metric tonnes, while soybean production stands at around 15.3 million tonnes in India against 120 million tonnes in the U.S.

“Duty-free imports would make it impossible for Indian farmers to compete [in the market],” he said.

He also warned that fruit and nut growers in States such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir could face severe price pressures if American produce enters the market without tariffs.

The import of processed agricultural products also raises concerns about genetically modified (GM) crops entering India “through the back door”, Mr. Surjewala said.

The Congress general secretary further alleged that the clause on removal of “non-tariff barriers” would weaken protections and subsidies for Indian farmers, even as American farmers receive far higher State support.

On energy security, he said statements from the U.S. indicated that India had committed to restricting crude oil purchases from Russia. India had imported oil worth ₹15.24 lakh crore from Russia between February 2022 and January 2026, saving about ₹1.81 lakh crore due to lower prices, he claimed. Any shift to costlier imports from the U.S. or elsewhere would raise energy costs and undermine self-reliance, he added.

Mr. Surjewala also questioned provisions requiring India to purchase $100 billion worth of American goods annually for five years, saying this contradicted earlier claims of expanding “mutual trade” to that level.

“Is this agreement based on equality or coercion?” he asked, adding that the country needed clarity on whether it was a “strong government” or a “compromised government”.

Former Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma also criticised the Centre, calling the Prime Minister’s remarks on trade negotiations under the UPA “unfair and incorrect”.

He said that during the Congress-led government, India negotiated trade agreements with ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia as a “self-assured nation and a sovereign equal”.

“During the UPA government, India’s economy grew rapidly and registered an average annual GDP growth of over 8%. The Indian economy withstood the global meltdown following the 2008 banking and financial crash and rebounded quickly. Dr. Singh’s wisdom was sought by the world leaders to manage the crisis,” Mr. Sharma told The Hindu, describing the interim trade deal with the U.S. as a “sell-out” deal.

“The Prime Minister has completely surrendered in front of President Trump — exactly the same way he did on May 10, 2025, by suddenly and unexpectedly halting Operation Sindoor,” Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said, in a post on X, while sharing Mr. Surjewala’s press statement.

Published – February 16, 2026 10:31 pm IST