NEW DELHI: The India-US interim trade deal looks more like a “pre-committed purchase agreement” that overturns every principle of reciprocity, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Tuesday, adding that Union ministers S Jaishankar and Piyush Goyal have avoided giving clear answers regarding the scale, timeline or fiscal impact of agreement with the US.Initiating a discussion in LS on the Budget, Tharoor termed it as “underwhelming” and a “squandered opportunity, equivalent to rearranging the airbags on a crashing car, while assuring the passengers that the chassis is sturdy and they will feel better afterwards”.On govt’s claim that India secured a “better deal” with the US than other Asian economies, he said the assertion does not withstand scrutiny. “It appears less like a FTA and more like a pre-committed purchase that overturns the very idea of reciprocity,” he asked.He said while India may have received tariff reductions of 1-2 percentage points, no East Asian economy has agreed to deliberately erode its trade surplus with the US through guaranteed purchase obligations.Targeting govt, Tharoor said this is not governance but headline management where “promises are loud, Budgets are grand, but delivery is conspicuously absent”. TNNEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTharoor Praises Parliamentary Panel Meet On India-EU, India-US Trade DealsCongress Moves No-Trust Motion Against Om Birla; Lamborghini CCTV Contradicts Tobacco Tycoon’s Claim‘Not To Get Involved In Political Game’: EU Launches Mission For Bangladesh 2026 PollsNo-Confidence Against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Explained: Process, Rules And Numbers In ParliamentDays Before Bangladesh Elections, Another Hindu Businessman Killed, Fears Rise Over Minority SafetyOpposition targets LS Speaker with no-confidence motion — rules, process & numbers – ExplainedPakistan Admits US-Backed Jihad In Afghan Wars A Mistake, But Still Accuses India Of Proxy War”That Day Will Never Come…” Yogi Adityanath Fires Warning At Those Dreaming Of Babri StructureOpposition Cites ‘Abuse Of Office’ In No-Confidence Move Against Lok Sabha Speaker Om BirlaKanpur Lamborghini Crash: CCTV Backs Police Claim As Lawyer Pushes Driver Defence In Court123PhotostoriesFactory making 1800+ liters of milk daily with detergent and urea fertilizer busted in Gujarat: 6 smart ways to check milk purity at homePromise Day special: Bollywood stories where words turn into lifelong vows8 easy buttermilk dishes to add in lunch menu5 succulents that bring you good luck and prosperityFive unforgettable true romance stories that re-wrote love on the big screen: ‘The Vow,’ ‘The Theory of Everything’ and more5 warning signs to spot before starting a serious relationship8 traditional Indian dishes among 50 Best Stews in the WorldTop 5 real estate hotspots in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in 2026 for investment in propertyNelson Mandela once said, “I never lose, I either win or learn”: 4 lessons it teaches studentsJimin to Suga: BTS’ airport style wins again as the group heads back to Korea123Hot PicksUAE Public School RegistrationGold Silver PricesParliament Budget SessionGCC Unified Visa 2026Income Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingSam DarnoldAndy ReidSuper BowlMen Hockey Olympics 2026Brock NelsonSidney CrosbyTerence CrawfordNBA Trade RumorsBen OgdenKevin Durant
NEW DELHI: The India-US interim trade deal looks more like a “pre-committed purchase agreement” that overturns every principle of reciprocity, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Tuesday, adding that Union ministers S Jaishankar and Piyush Goyal have avoided giving clear answers regarding the scale, timeline or fiscal impact of agreement with the US.Initiating a discussion in LS on the Budget, Tharoor termed it as “underwhelming” and a “squandered opportunity, equivalent to rearranging the airbags on a crashing car, while assuring the passengers that the chassis is sturdy and they will feel better afterwards”.On govt’s claim that India secured a “better deal” with the US than other Asian economies, he said the assertion does not withstand scrutiny. “It appears less like a FTA and more like a pre-committed purchase that overturns the very idea of reciprocity,” he asked.He said while India may have received tariff reductions of 1-2 percentage points, no East Asian economy has agreed to deliberately erode its trade surplus with the US through guaranteed purchase obligations.Targeting govt, Tharoor said this is not governance but headline management where “promises are loud, Budgets are grand, but delivery is conspicuously absent”. TNN
