The White House has overhauled its factsheet on the freshly inked US-India interim trade deal within the last 24 hours, striking out any mention of pulses and toning down language on Indias purchase pledges. The changes, spotted late Tuesday, reflect careful diplomacy as both nations navigate sensitive agricultural sectors.

The original factsheet, released alongside last weeks joint statement from President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had highlighted Indias tariff reductions on US farm products including certain pulses like lentils alongside sorghum, soybean oil, and wine. That line is gone now, aligning the document more closely with the official February 7 joint release, which made no such specifics.

Other tweaks include swapping firm committed to buy phrasing for the softer intends to buy on Indias planned $500 billion procurement of US goods over five years. References to agricultural products in that figure were also removed, as was a mention of digital services taxes – moves that experts say prevent overpromising amid ongoing talks.

This mini-trade pact, announced February 7, marks a thaw in bilateral ties with mutual tariff cuts on industrial goods, fruits, nuts, and energy. The US slashed duties on Indian exports from up to 50% (linked to Indias Russian oil purchases) to around 18%, while India eyes ramped-up imports of US tech, coal, and more. Pulses, however, were always a flashpoint – India, the globes biggest consumer, imports billions annually but shields local farmers from foreign competition via steep tariffs. US senators from pulse-producing states like North Dakota had pushed for access earlier this year, but dropping the reference likely averts backlash in India, where agriculture remains politically charged. Pulses account for 10-15% of the countrys protein imports; even modest openings could disrupt domestic markets overnight.

These revisions underscore the deals role as a framework for a fuller bilateral agreement, with thorny issues like dairy, autos, and intellectual property still on the table. For exporters, it clears lanes for nuts, grains, and energy but shelves any pulse windfall. Farmers on both sides may grumble, yet the tweaks keep momentum alive amid Trumps America First agenda and Indias self-reliance drive. Trade watchers predict quick follow-ups, as annual US-India commerce tops $200 billion. Its smart housekeeping – precise language avoids future disputes, noted one analyst tracking the talks.

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