New Delhi: The White House has revised its factsheet on the recently announced interim trade agreement with India, altering key language on agricultural access, digital taxes and a proposed $500 billion purchase plan.
In the updated version, the United States has removed “pulses” from the list of American farm products for which it had earlier claimed India would eliminate or reduce tariffs. The revised text now states that India will cut or remove duties on US industrial goods and a broad range of agricultural items, including dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and other products. Pulses are no longer mentioned.
The change aligns with New Delhi’s position that pulses remain a highly sensitive sector. Under the agriculture chapter released by India, pulses are placed in an exemption category, indicating that they will continue to receive full protection.
Another significant modification relates to India’s proposed purchases from the United States. The earlier factsheet said India “will purchase over $500 billion” worth of American energy, information and communication technology, agricultural goods, coal and other products. The revised document softens that commitment, stating that India “intends to buy more American products” and “purchase over $500 billion” in energy, ICT, coal and other items. The reference to agricultural goods has also been removed from this section.
Changes were also made to language concerning India’s digital services tax. The original version asserted that India would remove its digital services taxes and negotiate strong bilateral digital trade rules. The updated factsheet drops the claim about scrapping the tax and now states only that India committed to negotiate digital trade rules addressing discriminatory or burdensome practices.
The interim agreement was announced last week following discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. It reduces reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 25% and eliminates an additional 25% levy that had been imposed over India’s purchases of Russian oil.
Both sides have described the arrangement as a temporary step toward a broader bilateral trade agreement, with further negotiations expected in the coming months.