EXCLUSIVE | India-US Trade Deal: Everything will be known - what India gives, what it gets, timelines, reciprocity - FM Sitharaman

In an exclusive conversation with the Times Network Group Editor-in-Chief on Times Now, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed questions surrounding the much-discussed India–US trade agreement, saying that full clarity on what India gives and what it receives will be placed in the public domain once the process is complete.Sitharaman said that while it is known that tariff levels have been lowered from around 50 per cent to nearly 18 per cent, that alone does not explain the scope of the agreement. “Beyond that, very little is officially available at this stage,” she said, underlining that speculation should not replace formal disclosure.Referring to statements coming out of Washington, the finance minister noted that the US side has spoken about market access for agricultural goods and a possible change in India’s crude oil sourcing, including reduced purchases from Russia and higher supplies from the United States and Venezuela. However, she made it clear that these are broad signals and not the complete picture of the deal.During the interview, Sitharaman acknowledged that the Opposition and citizens are well within their rights to ask for transparency. “People of India, opposition leaders, everyone is right to ask what India is offering and what it is getting in return,” she said, stressing that accountability is essential in international trade negotiations.She also spoke about the need to wait for official communication from the Commerce Ministry. According to her, the concerned minister is the authority to present the agreement’s framework in Parliament and not every member of the Cabinet. Commenting without seeing the document, she said, only creates confusion.The finance minister added that the initial assurance given on protecting the agriculture and dairy sectors was only a general statement and not the final set of terms. “Those were not the details of the agreement,” she said, adding that the complete text will eventually be released.Sitharaman assured that the trade pact will not remain confidential. Once finalised, the public will know what India exports, what it imports, how reciprocity works, and when different clauses come into effect, whether immediately or in a phased manner over the next few years.On the political debate around the issue, she said the Leader of Opposition has every right to raise questions, but added that concerns should be backed by facts. “We are always ready to reply, provided the questions are asked in a forum where answers can be heard,” she said.She also flagged repeated disruptions in Parliament, saying that even when the Prime Minister attempts to speak, interruptions continue. “Despite the noise, the Prime Minister still addresses the House,” she remarked.The exclusive interview on Times Now offered a rare, detailed political response on the India–US trade negotiations, as the government prepares to place the full framework of the agreement before Parliament and the public.