'Trajectory...tilting toward India': PM tells NDA MPs after India-US deal
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Members of Parliament (MPs) after US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with India. According to India Today, he said the deal is a result of "sustained patience," adding that earlier criticism over tariff negotiations has now given way to a positive outcome. "People criticized the tariffs, but we remained patient, and the results are now visible," PM Modi said.
Global shift
World order shifting in India's favor, says PM Modi
PM Modi also spoke about how the world order is shifting in India's favor. He said, "The world order is changing, and its trajectory is increasingly tilting toward India." "I have been saying this at various global platforms, and today we are seeing India benefit even amid trade tensions across many countries," he added. In his address at the NDA meeting, he urged MPs to attend Parliament sessions regularly and communicate government achievements effectively to citizens.
Economic impact
Trade deal to boost domestic manufacturing
The trade deal is expected to boost domestic manufacturing and improve the quality of production in line with India's industrial growth. The agreement will see the US reduce tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%. In return, India has agreed to stop importing Russian oil and instead purchase more than $500 billion worth of US energy, technology, agricultural, and other products.
Opposition response
Congress questions PM Modi's stance
The deal, however, has been met with cynicism by opposition leaders. The Congress party has said it is particularly worried about Trump's announcement that India will reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers to zero against US goods. The party asked how this would affect Indian farmers and what measures are in place to protect their interests. It has demanded full disclosure of the India-US trade agreement.