Cong asks govt to take Parliament into confidence on U.S., EU trade deals

The Congress has stepped up its attack on the Modi government over the recently announced India–US and India–EU trade agreements, demanding that the full texts of both deals be tabled in Parliament and debated while the Budget Session is underway.

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Top Summary

• What happened: Congress asked the government to place the US and EU trade deal texts before Parliament for debate.

• Why it matters now: Claims and counterclaims — especially on agriculture and tariffs — are emerging without official clarity.

• What changes for people: Farmers, exporters, and consumers could be affected by trade concessions that remain undisclosed.

• Who is affected: Parliament, farming communities, trade bodies, and India’s negotiating credibility.

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With global trade agreements increasingly shaping domestic livelihoods, the Congress has accused the Modi government of bypassing Parliament at a critical moment. The party says India cannot afford “opaque trade diplomacy”, particularly when claims made abroad raise concerns at home.

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What the Congress is demanding

Addressing the issue, Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary (communications), said:

• The full text of both the US and EU trade deals must be laid before both Houses of Parliament

• The agreements should be formally debated, given their long-term impact

• Parliament must not be reduced to a “post-facto spectator” on major economic decisions

“Parliament is in session. There is no excuse for secrecy,” the Congress said.

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Sharp attack on Modi government

Ramesh alleged that based on statements made by Donald Trump, it appears Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “completely surrendered” India’s negotiating position.

He linked the current trade controversy to:

• Trump’s unilateral announcements

• Claims that India has agreed to major concessions

• A pattern, he alleged, of India reacting after decisions are declared abroad

The Congress said India “stands diminished” if deals are announced without transparency.

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Agriculture at the centre of the dispute

A key trigger for the Congress demand is a statement by US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who claimed that:

• India has liberalised agricultural imports from the US

This has raised red flags for the Opposition, which argues that:

• Agriculture is a politically and economically sensitive sector

• Any concessions could directly affect Indian farmers

• Such commitments, if true, must be discussed in Parliament

“These are not technical footnotes. They go to the heart of livelihoods,” Ramesh said.

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Context: Trade deals announced from abroad

The Congress pointed out that:

• Trump announced the US trade deal late at night (India time)

• Details remain sketchy, with no official joint text released

• Similar opacity surrounded the recently unveiled India–EU trade pact

This, the party argues, undermines:

• Parliamentary oversight

• Democratic accountability

• India’s long-standing practice of legislative scrutiny on trade

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Political backdrop

Ramesh also referenced earlier diplomatic optics, including Modi’s high-profile White House visit and what he termed “huglomacy,” contrasting it with:

• Trump’s later outreach to Pakistan

• India allegedly being left to explain decisions after the fact

The Congress claims this reflects a broader erosion of leverage.

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What the government has (and hasn’t) said

So far:

• The government has not placed any trade deal text before Parliament

• No official clarification has been issued on agriculture-specific concessions

• Ministers have largely framed the deals as strategic and growth-oriented

Opposition parties say this is insufficient for agreements of such scale.