India-US Trade Deal: Centre Assures Farmers Face No Risk, Only Gains

As India and the United States move closer to finalizing a major bilateral trade agreement, the Centre has sought to reassure farmers that their interests will remain fully protected. The government said the deal, now in its final stages, is designed to deepen economic ties between the two countries without compromising sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy.

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan dismissed opposition claims that the proposed agreement could harm domestic farmers. Addressing the media in the capital, Chouhan said there was “no threat whatsoever” to India’s staple food grains, millets, fruits, or dairy products, and stressed that the interests of both small and large farmers were non-negotiable.

The minister clarified that the agreement does not allow the sudden or disruptive entry of foreign agricultural products into Indian markets. Existing safeguards for key commodities, he said, would continue unchanged. Chouhan added that the trade deal had been shaped under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a clear mandate that farmers’ welfare must not be compromised under any circumstances.

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Responding to concerns triggered by remarks from a US official on increased market access for American farm products, Chouhan said Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had already clarified the matter in Parliament. He reiterated that India has not opened its agricultural markets in a way that would expose farmers to unfair competition or pressure domestic prices.

At the same time, the government highlighted the potential export benefits for Indian producers. Reduced tariffs are expected to boost exports of rice, spices, and textiles, sectors where India has a strong global presence. Officials noted that rice exports alone recently touched around ₹63,000 crore, while higher textile exports could directly benefit millions of cotton farmers.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also indicated that the trade deal is nearing completion, describing negotiations with the US as productive. Officials view the agreement as part of a broader effort to strengthen India-US economic and strategic ties amid global uncertainty, while maintaining that the core principle of the deal remains safeguarding the welfare of Indian farmers.

Also Read: India-US Trade Agreement Expands Market Access For Farmers, Says Piyush Goyal