A historic trade deal is to be signed between India and the USA, whose framework was released last week. In India, as well as the USA, there is a raging debate on whether the deal will help reignite the economies in both countries or if it will favour only one.

Promises versus performance

In his election campaign, Trump had projected himself as the protector of the economic interests of Americans, much like a magician with a magic wand, and had declared that he would make America great again and, after coming to power, would rid Americans of their economic miseries. But after completing a year in office, he seemed nowhere close to fulfilling the promise. Rather, his approval rating as president has been sliding on a daily basis. Different survey agencies have put him in the category of the worst-performing presidents since the Second World War.

Trump won the presidential election in 2024 with 49.8 per cent of the votes. His approval rating slipped to 36 per cent in December. Despite his bravado of capturing Venezuelan President Maduro and bringing him to New York, his popularity has not improved. If he believes that a trade deal with India will resurrect his image in the eyes of Americans, then he is living in a fool’s paradise, and it is only tall claims that the deal will help America’s farmers and its market a great deal.

No doubt he has got a very good deal with India, with an 18 per cent tariff on Indian........

© Free Press Journal