White House revises India-US trade fact sheet, drops ‘pulses’ and softens $500bn clause

The revision comes days after the official statement was released and amid criticism faced by the Modi government domestically, particularly over agricultural imports. Pulses are a sensitive sector for India, which remains heavily dependent on farming.

The fact sheet issued by the White House on Tuesday had stated that India would “eliminate or reduce tariffs” on all US agricultural products, including “certain pulses”. However, the revised version no longer mentions pulses.

India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses and is keen to safeguard farmers’ interests, especially as the opposition Congress party has intensified pressure on the government.

The changes suggest ongoing backchannel negotiations between the two countries, which recently reached an agreement after months of strain in bilateral ties.

In addition, the earlier version of the fact sheet 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.”

The revised version replaces the word “committed” with “intends.”

Congress slams govt

On Tuesday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the government, accusing it of backstabbing Indian farmers and compromising the farm sector’s interests.

Kharge wrote on X, “For the first time in India's history, a government has completely opened our agriculture to foreign goods. Now, we know what ‘Additional Products’ actually meant in the Indo-US joint statement agreed by Modi Govt!

“'Pulses' have been silently added in the newly released White House fact sheet on Feb 9, which was not part of the Indo-US Joint Statement issued on Feb 6, 2026.”

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of surrendering before the Trump administration, Kharge alleged that the government had also betrayed dairy farmers, among other sectors covered under the agreement.

“It is well known that if Indian cattle consume American feed, which are largely GM (genetically modified), it will alter the breed of our cattle and the taste of our milk,” Kharge said.

“2 Crore dairy farmers will suffer the consequences, but RSS-Sangh Parivar-BJP, who carry out lynchings in the name of the cow, are hell-bent on destroying our country's cattle population.”