New Delhi, India — February 13, 2026 — India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) wants everyone to know: the recent tweaks to the White House factsheet about the India-U.S. interim trade deal don’t change the main agreement. Both countries are still on the same page, and the updated language matches what they put out in their joint statement.
The basics of the trade framework, first laid out in that joint statement on February 7, still stand. After the U.S. published a factsheet with some different wording — mentioning specific tariff cuts and big purchase commitments — the document got a quick update, bringing it in line with what both sides agreed on.
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So, what actually changed and why should anyone care?
MEA officials say the new factsheet tones down the language to better match the official joint statement from India:
Commitment vs. Intent: The earlier factsheet said India “committed to buy” over $500 billion in U.S. goods over five years. The updated version now says India “intends” to buy more. Big difference — one’s a promise, the other’s a plan.
Tariff Details: The original mentioned lower tariffs on things like certain pulses. Those details got cut, which shows India’s still holding the line on protecting key farm sectors.
Digital Trade: At first, the factsheet said India would scrap its digital services taxes. Now, it just says both sides will keep talking about digital trade rules. Nothing’s final yet, and both teams are still negotiating.
MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal made it clear — the joint statement is what counts, and these factsheet edits don’t create new rules or obligations.
What’s the bigger picture?
This interim deal is part of a bigger effort to boost economic ties after a long stretch of talks. The idea is to cut tariffs, open up markets, and eventually work toward a bigger, more complete Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
Business leaders and exporters see the deal as a good chance to grow trade and investment. But it’s not all cheers — some farmers and labor groups in India are worried that lower tariffs could mean more cheap imports flooding the market.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has pointed out that India’s sensitive farm sectors and food staples are still shielded from tariff cuts where needed. Both countries will stick to the joint statement and keep moving toward a final, broader trade deal. Getting the language right — making sure everyone agrees on what’s an obligation and what’s just an intention — helps keep trust in the talks and avoids any market confusion.
The MEA’s message: businesses, politicians, and trade partners shouldn’t worry about the latest changes in wording. The core agreement hasn’t shifted, and everyone will keep talking things through before signing anything final.
