Rahul Gandhi Says Modi Will ‘Meekly Bow’ to Trump’s Tariff Deadline
A sharp war of words has erupted between the government and the Opposition over stalled India-US trade negotiations, with just three days remaining until a deadline for new American tariffs. Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would “meekly bow” to the US demands.
The public spat intensifies as the July 9 deadline looms for a 26% “reciprocal tariff” on Indian goods, announced by US President Donald Trump.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Gandhi took a direct swipe at the government’s negotiating stance. “Piyush Goyal can beat his chest all he wants. Mark my words, Modi will meekly bow to the Trump tariff deadline,” he wrote.
Gandhi’s statement was a direct reaction to remarks made by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who maintained that India would not be rushed into an unfavorable agreement.
Speaking at a business event in Delhi, Goyal underscored that a deal would only be signed if it’s a “win-win” for both nations. “India never enters into trade deals based on deadlines or time pressure. It should be a win-win agreement, and only when India’s interests are safeguarded… India is always ready to engage,” the minister said.
He specifically stated that the interests of India’s farm and dairy sectors, which employ over 80 million people, would not be compromised.
Negotiations between the two countries have hit a deadlock over several key issues. The Trump administration is pushing for greater access to India’s agricultural market, demanding lower tariffs on products like American maize and soybeans, and wider entry into the sensitive dairy sector.
