Protection of farmers' interest in US deal surprised some: Govt's dig at Opposition
Piyush Goyal dismissed criticism that the India-US trade deal would harm farmers and small producers, asserting that the interim framework fully safeguards their interests.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, on Saturday strongly rebutted Opposition's criticism that the India-US trade deal would hurt farmers and small-scale producers, asserting that the pact has been designed and finalised to fully protect their interests.
Explaining the contours of the interim framework of the trade deal that New Delhi and Washington outlined on Friday evening, the minister said the interests of farmers are paramount to the government, and accused critics of spreading negativity over the agreement. He said protection of farmers' interest the deal has surprised some.
"There are some people in the nation who are against the interests of the farmers. They don't worry about the farmers' interests; mislead the public of the nation. They are surprised to see that no steps have been taken in the India-US trade agreement that go against the interests of the farmers of the nation," Goyal told media.
The minister was responding to criticism from the Congress and other Opposition parties, which alleged that the move would harm the interests of Indian farmers and flood the domestic market with US agricultural produce.
"We have not done anything under the trade deal that will affect farmers or dairy producers. All goods that are sensitive in India, and where our farmers are self-reliant, have been exempted from the deal," the minister said as he listed items exempted from the deal.
For example, according to the minister, no genetically modified goods will be allowed to enter India under the deal. No tariff concessions have been given on meat.
"There will be no concessions on poultry, dairy products, soybean, maize (corn), rice, sugarcane, sugar, or millets such as jowar, bajra, ragi, kodo, and amaranth (Kingseed). In the case of fruits, India produces enough domestically. Items such as bananas, strawberries, cherries, and citrus fruits are not part of the deal," Goyal explained.
Similarly, green gram, chickpeas (kabuli chana) and green gram (moong dal) have been kept out of the agreement. Oilseeds, groundnuts, honey, malt and malt-based products, non-alcoholic beverages, starch, ethanol and tobacco are also outside its scope, he added, asserting that farmers’ interests will not be affected under the deal.
"I can say with full confidence that this agreement will not harm India’s farmers, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), or the handicrafts sector," he said in a press briefing on the trade deal, which is set to be signed before mid-March.
DEAL DETRIMENTAL TO FARMERS: CONGRESS
The Congress criticised the trade deal primarily on the grounds that it sacrificed the interests of domestic farmers to satisfy US trade demands.]
Senior leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Jairam Ramesh, argued that the agreement to slash import duties on American agricultural products will flood the Indian market with subsidised American goods.
"The India-US trade deal is a direct assault on India’s farmers and traders. Finalised entirely on America’s terms, this is a trap deal that compromises our national interest," the party said, as it protested against the deal outside the Parliament on Friday.
In an X post on Saturday, Jairam Ramesh alleged reduction in import duties on agricultural products will benefit American farmers at the cost of their Indian counterparts.
"India will slash import duties to help American farmers at the cost of Indian farmers. India's annual imports from the USA will triple, wiping out our longstanding goods trade surplus," he said.
INDIA-US TRADE DEAL IN A NUTSHELL
On Saturday, India and the US released a landmark joint statement outlining an interim trade framework that signals a major reset in their economic relationship. The deal features a significant reduction in US reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from as high as 50 per cent down to 18 per cent, while also eliminating a specific 25 per cent penal duty previously tied to India’s purchases of Russian oil.
In exchange, India has committed to a massive USD 500 billion purchase of American energy, technology, and aircraft over the next five years and agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on US industrial and agricultural products like tree nuts, soybean oil, and spirits.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, on Saturday strongly rebutted Opposition's criticism that the India-US trade deal would hurt farmers and small-scale producers, asserting that the pact has been designed and finalised to fully protect their interests.
Explaining the contours of the interim framework of the trade deal that New Delhi and Washington outlined on Friday evening, the minister said the interests of farmers are paramount to the government, and accused critics of spreading negativity over the agreement. He said protection of farmers' interest the deal has surprised some.
"There are some people in the nation who are against the interests of the farmers. They don't worry about the farmers' interests; mislead the public of the nation. They are surprised to see that no steps have been taken in the India-US trade agreement that go against the interests of the farmers of the nation," Goyal told media.
The minister was responding to criticism from the Congress and other Opposition parties, which alleged that the move would harm the interests of Indian farmers and flood the domestic market with US agricultural produce.
"We have not done anything under the trade deal that will affect farmers or dairy producers. All goods that are sensitive in India, and where our farmers are self-reliant, have been exempted from the deal," the minister said as he listed items exempted from the deal.
For example, according to the minister, no genetically modified goods will be allowed to enter India under the deal. No tariff concessions have been given on meat.
"There will be no concessions on poultry, dairy products, soybean, maize (corn), rice, sugarcane, sugar, or millets such as jowar, bajra, ragi, kodo, and amaranth (Kingseed). In the case of fruits, India produces enough domestically. Items such as bananas, strawberries, cherries, and citrus fruits are not part of the deal," Goyal explained.
Similarly, green gram, chickpeas (kabuli chana) and green gram (moong dal) have been kept out of the agreement. Oilseeds, groundnuts, honey, malt and malt-based products, non-alcoholic beverages, starch, ethanol and tobacco are also outside its scope, he added, asserting that farmers’ interests will not be affected under the deal.
"I can say with full confidence that this agreement will not harm India’s farmers, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), or the handicrafts sector," he said in a press briefing on the trade deal, which is set to be signed before mid-March.
DEAL DETRIMENTAL TO FARMERS: CONGRESS
The Congress criticised the trade deal primarily on the grounds that it sacrificed the interests of domestic farmers to satisfy US trade demands.]
Senior leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Jairam Ramesh, argued that the agreement to slash import duties on American agricultural products will flood the Indian market with subsidised American goods.
"The India-US trade deal is a direct assault on India’s farmers and traders. Finalised entirely on America’s terms, this is a trap deal that compromises our national interest," the party said, as it protested against the deal outside the Parliament on Friday.
In an X post on Saturday, Jairam Ramesh alleged reduction in import duties on agricultural products will benefit American farmers at the cost of their Indian counterparts.
"India will slash import duties to help American farmers at the cost of Indian farmers. India's annual imports from the USA will triple, wiping out our longstanding goods trade surplus," he said.
INDIA-US TRADE DEAL IN A NUTSHELL
On Saturday, India and the US released a landmark joint statement outlining an interim trade framework that signals a major reset in their economic relationship. The deal features a significant reduction in US reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from as high as 50 per cent down to 18 per cent, while also eliminating a specific 25 per cent penal duty previously tied to India’s purchases of Russian oil.
In exchange, India has committed to a massive USD 500 billion purchase of American energy, technology, and aircraft over the next five years and agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on US industrial and agricultural products like tree nuts, soybean oil, and spirits.