Congress MP Critiques Government Over US Trade Deal Miss

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh has taken aim at the BJP-led government, highlighting comments from US Commerce Secretary Howard Lighthizer. Lighthizer claimed that India missed a crucial trade agreement with the US due to insufficient direct communication between leaders. Ramesh's remarks, shared alongside a satirical verse, reflect the growing tensions in India-US relations. The discussion also revealed that while negotiations were finalized, the absence of a call from Prime Minister Modi to President Trump was a significant factor in the deal's stagnation. Lighthizer elaborated on Trump's trade strategy, emphasizing the importance of timely engagement from countries to secure favorable terms.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 9, 2026, 12:17 IST

Congress MP Targets Government on Trade Relations

On Friday, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticized the BJP-led central government by sharing statements from US Commerce Secretary Howard Lighthizer. Lighthizer alleged that a lack of direct communication at the leadership level led to India missing out on a trade agreement with the United States. Ramesh accompanied Lighthizer's podcast clip with a satirical Hindi verse, hinting at the growing tensions in India-US relations.

Ramesh's Commentary on Trade Negotiations

In a post on X, Ramesh expressed, "What has happened to our friendship? It’s all gone awry." This remark followed Lighthizer's assertion that the trade deal was stalled because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not reach out to US President Donald Trump. During a conversation on the 'All-In Podcast' with American venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, Lighthizer stated that while negotiations were complete and the deal structure was ready, direct involvement from leadership was crucial at the final stage.

Insights on Trade Strategy

Lighthizer explained Trump's broader trade negotiation strategy, describing it as a "ladder model." According to him, countries that engaged first received the best possible terms, while those that came later faced progressively higher rates. Referring to the initial trade agreement with the United Kingdom, Lighthizer noted that Trump was frequently asked which country would be next, with India being mentioned publicly several times.