India is defending a new trade agreement with the United States as criticism grows over its terms and scope.

The deal, announced this month following talks between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has raised concerns among farmers’ groups in India. Unions say increased US imports could hurt domestic producers in a sector that employs more than 700 million people.

Details of the agreement remain limited to a joint statement and a White House factsheet. New Delhi has said an interim pact could be finalized by the end of March.

A key element is India’s stated intention to purchase $500 billion in US goods over five years. India imported about $45 billion in US goods in the last fiscal year. Analysts say doubling annual imports to $100 billion would be difficult.

Trade uncertainty also surrounds energy imports. Washington recently rolled back a 25 percent duty after citing India’s “commitment” to stop buying Russian oil. The pledge was not included in the joint statement and has not been formally confirmed by the Indian government.

India’s Russian oil imports have declined from more than two million barrels per day in mid-2025 to about 1.1 million barrels per day in January.

Mumbai-based Nayara Energy, partly owned by Rosneft, is reportedly planning to continue buying Russian crude.