Sat Jun 28 16:23:06 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of an impending “very big” trade deal with India, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma has called on the Indian government to provide clarification and consult with the Opposition. Sharma emphasizes the need for a mutually beneficial trade agreement that protects India’s national interests, upholds WTO agreements, and continues engagement with other key trading partners. This call echoes concerns raised by another Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh, who suggested India is learning about significant policy decisions from the U.S. rather than through its own government.

**News Article:**

**Indian Opposition Demands Transparency on Impending India-U.S. Trade Deal**

**NEW DELHI, June 28, 2025 (The Hindu)** – Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma has urged the Indian government to clarify details surrounding a potentially “very big” trade deal with the United States, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent announcement.

Sharma, a former Union Commerce Minister, called for greater transparency and consultation with Opposition leaders, emphasizing that the deal should be mutually beneficial. In a series of posts on X, Sharma stated that India’s national interests must be protected and that any agreement should uphold the principles of a rules-based multilateral trade regime and honour existing World Trade Organisation (WTO) commitments.

“President Trump’s claim of sweeping Indian tariff concessions in the proposed trade deal and ‘opening up’ India needs to be clarified by the government and leadership of Opposition parties be taken in confidence,” Sharma wrote.

He also stressed the importance of continued engagement with other key trading partners, including the EU, ASEAN, the African Union, the GCC, and the LAC region, to broaden market access and trade opportunities.

Sharma’s remarks follow similar concerns voiced by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who criticized the government for seemingly relying on announcements from the White House for information regarding important policy decisions. The Opposition’s demand for transparency underscores the need for greater parliamentary involvement and public scrutiny as India navigates critical trade negotiations with the United States.

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