White House revises India-US trade factsheet, softens $500 billion purchase pledge

A day after releasing a detailed factsheet on the India-US interim trade agreement, the White House has quietly revised key language in the document — softening India’s $500 billion purchase pledge and removing references to specific agricultural imports and digital services tax.

The most striking change replaces the assertion that India “committed” to buy over $500 billion worth of American goods with a more cautious formulation that India “intends” to buy more US products. The revised version, now available on the White House website, subtly recalibrates what was projected as a firm commitment into a stated intent.

The original factsheet had said: “India committed to buy more American products and purchase over $500 billion of US energy, information and communication technology, agricultural, coal, and other products.”

In the updated version, the word “agricultural” has been removed from the list, and the phrasing now reads that India “intends” to increase purchases.

Farm imports reference trimmed

Edits were also made to the section detailing tariff reductions. The earlier document stated that India would eliminate or reduce tariffs on “all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products,” specifically naming dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, certain pulses, soybean oil, wine and spirits.

The revised factsheet drops the reference to “certain pulses” from this list — a notable omission given the political sensitivity of agricultural imports in India.

Digital tax language altered

Another significant change concerns digital trade. The original version stated unequivocally that “India will remove its digital services taxes” and had committed to negotiate a robust set of bilateral digital trade rules addressing discriminatory or burdensome practices.

In the revised text, the explicit assurance that India “will remove its digital services taxes” has been deleted. The updated language limits itself to India’s commitment to negotiate digital trade rules, without spelling out the removal of the tax.

Framework unveiled, final deal pending

The revisions come days after New Delhi and Washington unveiled a framework for an interim, reciprocal trade agreement aimed at boosting bilateral commerce.

Under the proposed arrangement, the US will reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the existing 50%. In exchange, India will eliminate or significantly lower import duties on US industrial products and a broad range of American food and agricultural items, including DDGs, red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits.

A joint statement issued by both sides had said India plans to purchase $500 billion worth of US energy products, aircraft and aircraft parts, precious metals, technology goods and coking coal over the next five years.

As part of the broader understanding, US President Donald Trump also lifted the 25% additional tariffs imposed on India in August last year over its purchase of Russian oil, citing “significant steps” taken by New Delhi and a commitment to stop directly or indirectly importing oil from Moscow.

The two countries are expected to sign the final trade agreement by mid-March, even as the revised factsheet signals a subtle but significant recalibration of how the deal’s key terms are being publicly framed.