With just three days remaining before former U.S. President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs come into effect, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has taken a sharp jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, predicting that he would “meekly bow” to the impending deadline amid the ongoing deadlock over a trade deal with the United States.
Gandhi’s comment came shortly after Union Minister Piyush Goyal reiterated that India would only sign a trade agreement with the U.S. if it safeguarded national interests. Sources earlier suggested that an interim trade deal between the two countries was likely to be signed before the July 9 deadline, raising speculation of last-minute negotiations.
In a post on social media, Gandhi said:
“Piyush Goyal can beat his chest all he wants. Mark my words, Modi will meekly bow to the Trump tariff deadline.”
The backdrop to this political exchange is Trump’s controversial move to impose a 26% duty on Indian goods, announced on April 2 as part of his so-called “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs, a measure aimed at addressing what he called unfair trade practices. India had been a particular focus, with Trump previously branding it a “tariff king” and accusing it of high duties on American products.
While the U.S. administration had offered a 90-day suspension to allow time for negotiations, that window is rapidly closing, and political stakes are rising on both sides.
The outcome of this impasse could have significant implications not just for India-U.S. trade relations, but also for the political narrative in India as both the government and the opposition position themselves on the issue of economic sovereignty.
