Trade deal has been announced between America and India. Donald Trump has also removed the 25 percent tariff imposed on India as a penalty for purchasing Russian oil. However, he has said that if India buys Russian oil directly or through any other channel, then this penalty will be imposed again. Experts are calling this attitude of Donald Trump as double standard.

Soft attitude towards PAK and China is a threat to India: Sibal

Former Foreign Secretary of India Kanwal Sibal described this development as Donald Trump’s double standard. He said that this is clearly an attempt to create pressure because our oil purchase from Russia has no connection with any bilateral trade deal with America. This is a political issue, which should be resolved at the political level and not through tariffs.

He posted on At the same time, China, which is importing large quantities of crude oil and gas from Russia, but America’s soft attitude towards it is also a matter of concern for India’s security and foreign policy, especially when China’s attitude has always been hostile towards India.

This is plain arm twisting.

Our oil purchases from Russia have nothing to do with a bilateral trade deal with the US.

This is a political issue, to be negotiated politically and not through tariffs.

Our purchases of Russian oil is not a threat to US security and foreign… https://t.co/CLeFD9KxJz

— Kanwal Sibal (@KanwalSibal) February 7, 2026

The former Foreign Secretary said, ‘Why is it that China’s purchase of oil and gas from Russia is not considered a threat to America’s security and foreign policy? America’s statement that if India again buys Russian oil directly or through a third country, it will be monitored and 25 percent tariff and other possible actions can be reimposed as punishment. This is an insult to India and shows that this relationship is not being seen as a relationship of equals.

Trump’s message is clear, India should buy oil only from US: Chellani

Strategic expert Dr. Brahma Chellani said, ‘The most important and sensitive aspect of Trump’s executive order regarding Russian oil is its monitoring system. Under this order, the US Commerce Secretary has been formally given the responsibility of monitoring India’s oil imports. Along with this, a clear provision has also been made that if it is found that India has resumed importing Russian oil, then the 25 percent tariff can be immediately reimposed.

The real sting in Trump’s executive order on Russian oil lies in its monitoring mandate. It formally tasks the commerce secretary with tracking Indian oil imports and creates a clear trigger: a finding that India has resumed “directly or indirectly” importing Russian oil could…

—Dr. Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) February 7, 2026

He said that the indirect use of the word in Trump’s executive order is particularly important and has a broad meaning. This could mean that if Washington believes that diesel, jet fuel or other refined petroleum products exported from India to Europe or the US are made from Russian crude, then action could be taken against them. He said that the message from Washington is very clear that India’s energy security should be linked to a supplier which is geographically far away and whose supplies are very expensive, i.e. America.

Also read: ‘India will not buy oil from Russia’, India’s reply to Donald Trump’s claim, know what he said?

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal shared complete information regarding the trade deal between India and America. He assured that the new trade agreement between India and America will not harm India’s farmers, dairy producers or rural employment.

He said that the government has ensured a tariff structure that protects the most sensitive food sectors of the country. It also opens up vast export opportunities for India’s manufacturing, technology producers and labour-intensive industries.

According to the Union Minister, after Washington reduced the tariffs imposed on many Indian products from around 50 percent to a flat 18 percent, India will have to face lower US tariffs compared to many competing economies. At the same time, India has not opened its markets to any American agricultural exports, which could have become a threat to domestic livelihoods.

He said that this agreement increases India’s export prospects in high-value sectors while keeping farmers completely safe.

1. India kept these areas completely safe

India has given zero tariff concession on many sectors. The tariff will be kept the same as before. This is a key part of the government’s political message.

(i) Food grains and essential agricultural products

India has given full protection to those essential food categories on which the livelihood of millions of farmers depends.

• Wheat
• Rice
• Maize
• soya and oilseeds
• Various categories of poultry and meat
• ethanol
• Tobacco

High tariffs on all these will remain the same as before and no new access will be given to American exporters.

(ii) The entire dairy sector of India

This sector has been described as 100 percent safe.

• Milk (in all forms)
• Thing
• butter
• Ghee
• Cream
• Curd
• buttermilk
• Whey
• Cheese

The government said that no market access has been given for American dairy products.

(iii) Vegetables, Fruits and processed foods

The government said that a long list of fresh, frozen, dried and canned products has been kept completely safe.

• fresh vegetables

Contains potatoes, garlic, mushrooms, bottle gourd, ladyfinger, green chillies, peas, beans, pumpkin and many more.

• processed vegetables

Frozen potatoes, peas and beans, mixed vegetables, canned products, preserved cucumbers and mushrooms.

• Dry Vegetables and Pulses

Dried Onion and Garlic, Dehydrated Powder, Green Peas, Chickpea, Beans, Sweet Potato.

• sensitive fruit

Banana and banana products

Mango and mango products

Citrus fruits such as orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit

Berry category fruits, which also include strawberries.

(iv) Spices and taste heritage of India

Black pepper, cloves, chilli, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, turmeric, celery, fenugreek, mustard, cassia and other related spice products.

(v) tea

Black tea, green tea and tea bags will remain fully protected to protect India’s prestigious tea industry. According to the government, no changes have been made in agriculture, dairy, spices and tea sectors.

2. India is reducing tariffs on these American imports

These are those sectors which are outside the category of sensitive agriculture.

(i) Industrial and manufactured objects

• machinery
• electricals
• vehicles and their parts
• chemicals

This is in line with India’s policy of promoting manufacturing and exports.

(ii) Technology, Data-center and semiconductor hardware

India is reducing tariffs on all these-

• high-end servers
• AI Hardware and GPU
• data-center equipment
• semiconductor input

Its aim is to make India’s tech and AI infrastructure cheaper and more competitive.

(iii) Non-sensitive agricultural and food products

These products are mainly used by the high income group and are not considered a threat to small farmers.

• Dried Distillers Grains
• Red Sorghums
• tree nuts
• soybean oil
• Select Fruits
• Wine and Spirits

3. What is America giving to India in return??

The US will impose a uniform 18 percent tariff on a large portion of Indian exports, which previously attracted much higher tariffs. The sectors which will benefit from this are:

• Textiles and Apparels
• leather and footwear
• Plastic and Rubber Products
• Home Decor and Carpets
• Machinery and Chemicals
• Handicraft related products
• pharmaceuticals
• gems and diamonds
• aircraft parts

America is also withdrawing the metal security tariff previously imposed on some Indian products.

4. What’s the deal with wine?

In the trade deal between India and America, liquor has not been kept in the protected category but in the open category. It does not directly challenge Indian farmers, hence it has not been included in the sensitive list.

change in tariff

Earlier, duty on imported whiskey, gin, rum and similar spirits was around 150 percent. Under the new India-US and India-EU frameworks, it is expected to reduce to about 30 to 40 percent.

effect on prices

A mid-range Scotch or Bourbon, which costs around Rs 4,500 in Mumbai, may be available for around Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 after the implementation of the new prices.

Who will benefit from this trade deal?

Scotch and Irish whiskey brands will benefit from getting scale at lower prices to the European Union (EU). At the same time, American bourbon brands like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam will now compete in the Indian market against European whiskeys, instead of remaining in the higher bracket as before.

What will be the impact on consumers??

These lower duties will make import of bottled-at-origin spirits practical. With this, customers will get better quality and more options.

Impact on Indian craft spirits

This may increase price pressure on India’s craft whiskey and gin brands. To create a distinct identity in the market, they will have to put more emphasis on their flavors and heritage.

Also read: ‘Our CDF Asim Munir had given the slogan of Ghazwa-e-Hind’, Jaish commander’s confession on Operation Sindoor in the Jihadi fair held in PAK.