Congress MP Imran Masood expressed strong opposition to the Interim Trade Deal framework with the United States, stating it is not in India's best interest and could worsen inflation. He highlighted the adverse effects of inflation on the poor in India, attributing rising prices to US policies and actions. Masood's comments come as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits India, where he announced that both nations are 'on the verge' of a trade agreement, claiming significant progress has been made in discussions to rebalance trade ties. Rubio dismissed claims that the US-India relationship has lost momentum, asserting that the trade discussions are part of a broader global effort to address trade imbalances. He clarified that the trade push initiated during the Donald Trump administration was not specifically targeted at India but aimed at correcting global trade issues. The Interim Agreement framework, announced in February 2023, aims to enhance trade relations and includes commitments for India to purchase $500 billion worth of US products over the next five years, focusing on energy, aircraft, and technology.