Washington | Senior American leaders have welcomed the trade agreement announced by United States President Donald Trump with India, saying the deal will significantly increase American agricultural exports, deepen energy cooperation and help counter Russian influence by reducing India’s dependence on Russian oil.
US lawmakers and officials described India as a close and strategic partner, stressing that the agreement marks a positive reset in bilateral ties and opens the Indian market further to American goods and services.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Jim Risch congratulated President Trump on the agreement, calling it a major achievement. He said it was encouraging that the world’s largest democracy had agreed to lower trade barriers with the United States.
Risch described India as an essential partner in countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific and said the new deal would also support Washington’s efforts to weaken Russia’s war economy. He noted that India’s commitment to purchase more American goods would help reduce its reliance on Russian energy and contribute to efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the agreement would provide a major boost to American farmers by expanding access to India’s vast consumer market. She said increased exports would raise prices for farm produce and inject new income into rural America.
Rollins pointed out that the United States recorded an agricultural trade deficit of 1.3 billion dollars with India in 2024. She added that India’s growing population makes it a key market for American farm products and that the deal could help narrow the trade gap.
Energy and investment cooperation was also highlighted by US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who described Trump as a dealmaker delivering record investments through American energy exports. He said the agreement demonstrated the use of energy diplomacy to strengthen international relationships while supporting the US economy.
President Trump announced that the trade deal would lower reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. He said India would also reduce its tariffs and non-tariff barriers on American products to zero.
Senator Lindsey Graham said India had earned the tariff reduction and praised the agreement as part of a broader strategy to pressure countries that support Russia’s war effort. He said reducing purchases of Russian oil would increase pressure on Moscow and bring the conflict in Ukraine closer to an end.
Graham has previously proposed legislation that would impose steep tariffs on countries continuing to buy Russian oil.
Strategic analysts also reacted to the announcement. Kurt Campbell, Chairman and Co-Founder of Washington-based advisory firm The Asia Group and a former US Deputy Secretary of State, said the agreement was a welcome but delayed signal after months of strain in bilateral ties.
He said both sides were now attempting to restore momentum in a partnership once seen as central to the 21st century. While the deal includes steps to open Indian markets to US companies, Campbell noted that restoring long-term strategic alignment would remain a challenge.
The agreement was finalised after a phone conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump said the two leaders discussed trade, global security and efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump said India had agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead increase purchases from the United States and potentially Venezuela. He added that India had committed to buying American energy, technology, agricultural products and other goods worth more than 500 billion dollars.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the agreement and thanked President Trump for reducing tariffs on Indian products. He said the deal would benefit both nations and unlock new opportunities for cooperation between the world’s largest democracies.
Modi said stronger India-US ties would contribute to global peace, stability and prosperity and expressed his commitment to working closely with Trump to take the partnership to new heights.
Discussion about this post