The Forum for Trade Justice, a coalition of farmers’ associations, trade unions, health organizations, and environmental groups, has issued a stark warning against conceding to U.S. demands for duty-free access to India’s agriculture and dairy sectors in ongoing free trade agreement negotiations.

In an open letter released on August 30, 2025, the organization highlighted the potential for long-term disruptive impacts on Indian farmers and the nation’s agro-biodiversity, as well as threats to India’s sovereignty through forced changes in domestic policies and regulations.

The Trump administration’s imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian exports, justified on economic and political grounds, is seen as a pressure tactic to secure concessions. The Forum argues that granting the U.S. duty-free market access in exchange for tariff reductions would undermine the livelihoods of millions of Indian farmers, who form the backbone of the country’s economy.

Additionally, the organization raised concerns over U.S. demands for changes to India’s intellectual property laws, particularly to enable “evergreening” of pharmaceutical patents. Such changes could cripple India’s generic medicine industry, leading to a sharp rise in healthcare costs for the poor and sick.

The Forum for Trade Justice urges the Indian government to resist these demands, emphasizing the need to protect national interests, food security, and the rural economy in the face of aggressive U.S. trade policies.

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