In a late-night phone call turned national humiliation, narendra Modi’s government quietly surrendered India’s economic sovereignty to donald trump, packaging colonial-style tribute as a “historic” trade breakthrough. While the regime beats drums about Atmanirbhar Bharat, they’ve agreed to slash tariffs to zero or near-zero on American industrial and agricultural goods, committed to buying half a trillion dollars of US products with zero public breakdown or timeline, and opened the door for subsidized American corn, dairy, and soy to flood indian markets — all while dumping discounted Russian oil for overpriced American energy. 



No full treaty text has been released. No parliamentary debate. No scrutiny. Just Trump’s boastful announcement and Modi’s grateful applause. This isn’t diplomacy. This is extortion with a saffron bow tied around it. The government that lectures the nation on self-reliance just sold manufacturing dreams, farmer security, energy independence, and strategic autonomy for a tariff rate our competitors already enjoy — and a pat on the head from Washington.



  1. India opens the floodgates to zero or near-ZERO tariffs on ALL US industrial goods (down from average 13.5%) and a “wide range” of agricultural products → while trump graciously drops his own punitive tariff from 50% to 18%. That’s still higher than what vietnam and bangladesh get. Congratulations — we paid premium to remain second-class.



  2. Trump brags about a $500 billion indian purchase commitment — roughly 1/6th of our GDP — covering energy, aircraft, tech, precious metals. No official indian confirmation of the figure, no timeline, no sector-wise split. Just Modi’s silence and a vague “intends to purchase.” Your money, their blank cheque to American corporations.



  3. Agriculture was supposedly “protected” — until the USTR made clear tariffs on select (read: many) farm products are heading to zero or sharp cuts. Subsidized US corn, dairy, soy, and nuts are coming. Farmers already on the streets in 2020-21 know exactly what American “access” means: ruined livelihoods and suicide statistics climbing again.



  4. We’re being strong-armed into dumping Russian oil — bought at deep discounts that saved indian consumers thousands of crores and kept inflation in check — to buy expensive US energy instead. Trump’s punitive 25% tariff was blackmail over Russian purchases; Modi paid the ransom and now indian refiners and your fuel bill foot the cost.



  5. The “reciprocal tariff” spin is pure gaslighting — trump slapped a 50% rate (including 25% punitive) himself as leverage. Now he removes his own extortion fee, drops to 18%, and Modi’s cheerleaders call it victory. This isn’t negotiation; it’s paying a bully to stop punching you and thanking him for the privilege.



  6. Non-tariff barriers — India’s quality standards, testing, licensing — in ICT, medical devices, and pharma are now on the chopping block. Section 232 national security probes will be “negotiated,” meaning india begs Washington not to crush our exports while we dismantle our own protections.



  7. No treaty text released, no parliamentary scrutiny, no public debate — violating the spirit of Article 51(c) of the Constitution that demands respect for international law and treaty obligations. A deal affecting 1.4 billion lives was finalised in backroom calls and announced on X. Democracy died in a DM.



  8. Atmanirbhar Bharat was the loudest slogan of this regime — yet they just gutted manufacturing self-reliance by handing American industry duty-free access while our factories still face higher effective barriers abroad. Make in india is now officially Make for America.



  9. Strategic autonomy — the cornerstone of indian foreign policy — evaporated the moment Modi chose Trump’s “friendship” over discounted energy, independent oil sourcing, and balanced great-power relations. russia saved us from energy shock; America just cashed in on our weakness.



  10. This isn’t the first sellout, and unless citizens wake up → it won’t be the last. From demonetisation to farm laws to now this economic vassalage, the pattern is clear: bold slogans for votes, quiet surrenders for photo-ops. Demand the full text. Demand accountability. Or watch the next generation pay compound interest on Modi’s colonial tribute.

For more interesting updates wa click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel

Find out more:

Modi Trump

SIBY JEYYA

07/02/2026 09:51 AM