As India and the United States continue negotiations on a proposed bilateral trade agreement, a claim has gone viral on social media alleging that India has refused to rush into a trade deal with Washington and is instead waiting for more favorable terms. The claim is based on a report published by British news agency Reuters.
According to Reuters, “Officials and sources familiar with the discussions said India has refused to rush into a trade agreement with the United States during recent negotiations and is willing to wait for a better deal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to be confident due to new trade partners, reduced economic risks, and domestic political gains.“
Citing the Reuters report, the social media account Global News & Geopolitics also claimed, “India has declined to fast-track a trade agreement with the United States and has instead decided to wait for more favorable terms.“
Fact Check
Times Headline investigated the viral claim and found it to be misleading. Both the Indian and the US governments have publicly rejected the Reuters report, describing it as inaccurate and misleading.
During the investigation, Times Headline found a statement from India’s Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, who dismissed the Reuters report. He stated:
“This story is completely false, baseless, and misleading. When USTR Jamieson Greer (@USTradeRep) visited Delhi in June, we had very productive meetings. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a balanced, commercially meaningful agreement that delivers tangible benefits to businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers in both countries. Our teams remain fully engaged in achieving this objective.“
Further investigation also found a statement from Sergio Gor, the US Ambassador to India, who labeled the Reuters report as fake news. He wrote:
“Fake News Alert! Nobody has rejected anything. We had very positive meetings and both sides reiterated their commitment to finalizing the trade deal. We remain actively engaged. Reuters — you can do better!“
Conclusion
The viral claim that India has rejected or refused to move forward with a trade deal with the United States is misleading.
Official statements from both the Indian and the US governments contradict the claim made in the Reuters report. Representatives from both countries have confirmed that discussions have been positive, negotiations are continuing, and both sides remain committed to finalizing a mutually beneficial trade agreement.