Rahul Gandhi targeted the Center regarding India-US trade deal – situation like well in front and ditch behind.

New Delhi, 14 February. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government of misleading the country on the tariff provisions in the India-US interim trade agreement.

India’s cotton farmers and textile exporters will be adversely affected.

The Congress MP said that this deal will have a bad impact on India’s cotton farmers and textile exporters. There is 18 percent tariff on Indian clothes in America. At the same time, Bangladesh is being given the benefit of zero percent tariff on export of clothes on the condition that it imports American cotton.

Rahul Gandhi raised questions on the policy framework and alleged that importing American cotton would harm domestic farmers while not importing it would harm the textile industry. He claimed that Bangladesh is indicating a reduction or stoppage of cotton imports from India, which could worsen the situation for Indian producers.

The Congress MP wrote in a post on social media X, ’18 percent tariff vs zero percent, I tell how the expert liar Prime Minister and his cabinet are spreading confusion on this issue. How they are cheating India’s cotton farmers and textile exporters through the India-US trade deal. Bangladesh is being given the benefit of zero percent tariff on garment exports to America. The only condition is that they import American cotton.

This agreement will push millions of people towards unemployment and economic crisis.

Rahul Gandhi said, “After the announcement of 18 percent tariff on Indian clothes, when I raised a question in Parliament about the special exemption being given to Bangladesh, a minister of the Modi government replied – ‘If we want the same benefit, we will have to import cotton from America.’ Why was this thing hidden from the country till now?” He said that this agreement will push millions of people towards unemployment and economic crisis.

18% tariff vs 0% – Let me explain, how the Prime Minister and his cabinet, who are experts in lying, are spreading confusion on this. And, how they are cheating the country’s cotton farmers and textile exporters with the India-US trade agreement.

Bangladesh gets 0% tax on garments exports to America… pic.twitter.com/F4hi4OCHFj

—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 14, 2026

This deal will either kill cotton farmers or harm the cotton industry.

He also criticized the government’s handling of the negotiations and said that in the interest of the country, a deal should have protected both cotton farmers and textile exporters. He wrote in the post, ‘And what kind of policy is this? Is it really a choice, or is it a trap designed to push us into a situation of well ahead, ditch behind? If we import American cotton, our own farmers will be ruined. If we do not import it, our textile industry will be left behind and will be destroyed and now Bangladesh is also giving a signal that it can reduce or even stop importing cotton from India.

He further wrote in the post, ‘Textile industry and cotton cultivation are the backbone of livelihood in India. The livelihood of crores of people depends on this sector. Attacking these sectors means pushing millions of families into the abyss of unemployment and economic crisis. A forward-thinking government with the best interests of the country in mind would have struck a deal that would have protected and ensured the prosperity of both cotton farmers and textile exporters. But exactly the opposite happened. His ministers have made such an agreement, which is likely to cause deep loss to both the sectors.

It was announced last week that the India-US Interim Agreement serves as a framework for a mutual and win-win trade pact between the two countries. This agreement will include eliminating or reducing tariffs on US industrial goods and many types of food and agricultural products. This includes dried distillers grains, red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and other products.

In return, America will impose a mutual tariff of 18 percent on some selected Indian products. This includes clothing, leather, shoes, plastics, rubber, organic chemicals, home decor, artisan products, and some machinery. When fully implemented, US tariffs on things like generic pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts will be eliminated.