We negotiate from position of strength, not under deadlines: Piyush Goyal on U.S. trade deal after Congress jab

With the Congress mocking the BJP-led NDA government over the proposed trade deal with the U.S., Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday (July 5, 2025) said India negotiates from a position of strength and not under deadlines.

He also accused the Congress of “negotiating and signing agreements that were not in the national interest” during that party-led UPA government’s tenure.

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Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Indo-US trade deal, claiming the PM will “meekly bow” to the tariff deadline set by President Trump administration.

“India does not negotiate under deadlines. We negotiate keeping national interest in mind, and national interest is paramount in all our engagements across the world,” Mr. Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister, told reporters in Bengaluru.

“After the Modi government came to power, we have signed free trade agreements with Mauritius, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and the four-nation EFTA (European Free Trade Association) grouping—Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein—and now with the UK last month.” According to him, India continues to engage with other developed nations, including the EU bloc of 27 countries, the U.S., Oman, Peru, and Chile.

“Today, India negotiates from a position of strength. We are self-confident and can compete with anybody in the world. This is not the weak India under Congress and the UPA, which signed agreements that were not in the national interest,” he added.

Mr. Goyal had earlier stated that India would accept the proposed trade deal with the U.S. only when it is fully finalised and in national interest.

On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi had said in a post on ‘X’ that “Piyush Goyal can beat his chest all he wants, mark my words, Mr. Modi will meekly bow to the Mr. Trump tariff deadline.” The Congress has been attacking the PM for remaining silent and not countering US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of bringing a halt to hostilities between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack.

On Friday, Mr. Goyal had said that FTAs are possible only when both sides benefit and involve a win-win agreement, when asked about the proposed interim trade agreement with the U.S.

“National interest should always be supreme. Keeping that in mind, if a deal is made, then India is always ready to deal with developed countries,” he said.

Mr. Trump has set a deadline of July 9 to finalise the trade agreement with India.