Within hours of releasing a factsheet on the “historic” trade deal between India and the United States, the White House made revisions to the document, raising fresh questions about the specifics of the agreement.
The factsheet, issued on February 9, outlined the key provisions and understandings reached between the two countries. However, by February 10, noticeable changes had been made to the document — revisions that were not part of the original version.
Omissions, edits and revisions in focus
One of the most significant changes is the removal of “certain pulses” from the list of agricultural products on which India had reportedly agreed to reduce or eliminate tariffs.
According to the version of the factsheet available on Tuesday, the White House stated that India had agreed to either 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, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, certain pulses, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products.”
The updated version, however, no longer mentions “certain pulses,” prompting scrutiny over the scope and final contours of the trade understanding.
However, the revised version currently available on the official White House website states:
“The key terms of the Agreement include:
India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods and a wide range of U.S. food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products.”
Notably, “certain pulses” — which appeared in the earlier version — are no longer mentioned.
Another significant omission relates to digital services taxes. The previous version of the factsheet stated that India would “remove its digital services taxes.” However, the updated document makes no reference to this provision. India had already scrapped its 6% equalisation levy on digital advertising services with effect from April 1, 2025.
Several edits and wording changes have also been flagged in the revised document, including a shift in language from “commitment” to “intention.”
The updated factsheet states:
“India intends to purchase $500 billion of U.S. energy products, aircraft and aircraft parts, precious metals, technology products, and coking coal over the next five 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.”
In contrast, the earlier text and the joint statement had said that India had “committed” to investing $500 billion in U.S. energy goods, aircraft parts and other products — a stronger formulation than the current phrasing.
Another notable omission concerns digital services taxes. The earlier version of the document stated that India would “remove its digital services taxes.” However, the updated version on the website makes no reference to this provision. (Agencies)
