With the July 9 deadline looming, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming he would “meekly bow” to U.S. President Trump’s tariff demands. Gandhi’s remark was in response to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s assertion that India would only sign a deal fully aligned with its national interest - not just to meet deadlines.

The backdrop: President Trump set a 90‑day window following April’s tariff pause, after which a 26% tariff could be reinstated . Trade talks are reaching a critical phase, with negotiations reportedly wrapping up in Washington earlier this week . While India remains open to increasing imports of certain U.S. goods - such as nuts, medical devices, autos, and energy - farm and dairy sectors remain off-limits.

As tension builds, India emphasizes that any free trade agreement must yield mutual benefits, not be driven by imposed timelines . The coming days will test whether diplomacy prevails - or if Modi yields to Trump’s pressure before the deadline.