A day after releasing its factsheet on the India-US trade deal, the White House has quietly revised several key terms, including softening language on India’s proposed purchases of American goods and removing references to certain agricultural items and the digital services tax.

The updated factsheet changes an important line that earlier stated India “committed” to buy more American products and purchase over $500 billion worth of US goods. The original wording said: "India committed to buy more American products and purchase over $500 billion of US energy, information and communication technology, agricultural, coal, and other products."

However, the revised version currently available on the White House website now says India “intends” to buy more American products. Along with this change, the updated document also removes the term “agricultural” from the list of product categories mentioned in that sentence.

The revision comes days after India and the US announced a framework for a reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade agreement. The factsheet released on Tuesday had outlined major terms of the pact, stating that India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of American food and agricultural products.

In the initial version, the factsheet had also listed specific agricultural items. It stated, "India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, certain pulses, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products".

In the revised version, the reference to “certain pulses” has been removed from the list, while other items remain.

Another major change relates to digital trade. The earlier version had stated: "India will remove its digital services taxes" and also mentioned that India had "committed to negotiate a robust set of bilateral digital trade rules that address discriminatory or burdensome practices and other barriers to digital trade".

However, the updated factsheet no longer includes the statement that “India will remove its digital services taxes.” Instead, it only notes that “India committed to negotiate a robust set of bilateral digital trade rules...” without repeating the earlier promise about removing the tax.

Last week, both countries announced a framework for an interim trade agreement under which India and the US will reduce import duties on a range of goods to increase bilateral trade. Under the proposed arrangement, the US will lower tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent, from the current 50 per cent.

In return, India will eliminate or significantly reduce import duties on all US industrial products and a broad spectrum of American food and agricultural items, including dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits.

According to a joint statement issued by both sides, India is planning to purchase USD 500 billion worth of US energy products, aircraft and aircraft parts, precious metals, technology products and coking coal over the next five years.

As the deal was finalised, US President Donald Trump also removed the 25 per cent tariffs, or additional import duty, imposed on India in August last year for purchasing Russian oil. He said the move was made as the country has taken "significant steps" and New Delhi has committed to stopping directly or indirectly importing oil from Moscow.

New Delhi and Washington are expected to sign the final trade deal by mid-March this year.