Democrats win Congress, reshaping U.S. trade policy and India's prospects

Democrats won a decisive victory in the U.S. midterm elections on November 4, gaining massive control of Congress and checking President Donald Trump's policies, with implications for global trade and India's prospects. The results are seen as a repudiation of Trump's 'America First' agenda, including reciprocal tariffs on 157 countries and his war on Iran, which raised U.S. household costs by $2,000. Democrats may use constitutional "power of the purse" and oversight to restrain him, potentially enacting a new Trade Promotion Authority. For India, a weakened Trump administration could ease negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement, though U.S. demands on agricultural market access and generic pharmaceuticals remain contentious issues for New Delhi.