Hours after issuing a factsheet on the 'historic' trade deal between India and the United States, the White House released a revised document which involves certain changes. This omission has raised more questions about the deal than it has answered.
Released on February 9, the factsheet highlighted the main aspects and agreements of the deal struck between the two countries. However, on February 10, some changes appeared in the document that were not there before.
What are the changes?
One major change is the removal of "certain pulses" from the list of agricultural goods India was supposed to reduce or eliminate tariffs on.
According to the sheet that was received on Tuesday, the White House stated that India has agreed to either eliminate or reduce its tariffs on "all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products", Hindustan Times reported. These products include "dried distillers' grains (DDGs), red sorghum, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, certain pulses, soyabean oil, wine and spirits, and additional items".
However, the new version, that is available on the White House website, reads, "India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers' grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products."
Digital services taxes omitted
Another important omission concerns digital services taxes. The earlier version of the document said India would "remove its digital services taxes". However, the updated version on the website does not mention this. India had already removed its 6 per cent equalisation levy on digital advertising services, effective April 1, 2025.
Some edits and revisions have also been noted in this new document. One notable change was the shift from "commitment" to "intention".
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"India intends to purchase $500 billion of US energy products, aircraft and aircraft parts, precious metals, technology products, and coking coal over the next 5 years. India and the United States will significantly increase trade in technology products, including Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and other goods used in data centers, and expand joint technology cooperation," reads the factsheet.
In earlier statements, the US mentioned that India had committed to investing $500 billion in US energy goods, aircraft parts, and more.
Another important omission concerns digital services taxes. The earlier version of the document stated that India would "remove its digital services taxes". However, the new version on the website does not mention this.
