Bengaluru, Feb. 3 -- Karnataka Minister for Electronics Priyank Kharge on Tuesday criticised the India-USA trade deal by drawing a comparison with the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He noted that while Washington has reduced tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent.

Speaking to reporters, Mallikarjun Kharge dismissed the trade deal as a "GST Bachao Utsav," alleging a severe trade imbalance. He claimed the agreement allows a 0% tariff on American goods entering India, compared to an 18% tariff on Indian goods entering the U.S.

"The govt of India has become a madhouse. It is nothing but the GST Bachao Utsav, which the government celebrated so much. First you implement high GSTs, then you reduce it after 8 years, then you celebrate reduction....