No saudebaazi: Shivraj Chouhan dismisses Congress's claim on India-US trade deal
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said no clause in the India-US interim trade deal allows genetically modified imports or farm concessions and the agreement does not include sensitive crops, dairy, meat and grains products.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday dismissed the Opposition's claim of the Modi government's 'surrender' in the India-US interim trade deal, asserting that the Centre did not do any 'saudibaazi' (underhand dealing or bargain) and ensured "complete security" for the agricultural sector.
He also asserted that no provision in the current India-US interim trade deal will harm domestic farmers or compromise the purity of Indian agriculture.
"We did not do 'saudebazi' but did it (reached the deal) by a balanced approach with constructive dialogue," Chouhan said.
The senior BJP leader's remarks came after Congress claimed that India has not benefited from the trade agreement and that it is "not a deal but a surrender" of the country's self-esteem and interests.
Furthermore, Chouhan said no product has been included in any agreement that could adversely impact Indian farmers, and all sensitive agricultural items have been kept completely outside its scope. "Farmers' interests are paramount and protected. Not a single decision has been taken that puts them at risk," he said.
A key safeguard, the minister underlined, is India's firm stand against genetically modified imports.
"No genetically modified product of any kind will be allowed to enter India. This is a major decision to protect the purity of Indian agriculture, our soil and our seeds," Chouhan said.
He also clarified that the United States has not been given tariff concessions on a wide range of agricultural commodities. Products that will not be allowed in include meat, poultry, dairy, soybean, maize, rice, wheat, sugar, coarse grains, bananas, strawberries, cherries, citrus fruits, green peas, kabuli chana, moong, oilseeds, ethanol and tobacco.
"In addition, hulled grains and flour, potatoes, onions, peas, beans, cucumbers, mushrooms, frozen vegetables, oranges, grapes, lemons and mixed canned vegetables will not be imported into India," the minister said.
On dairy, the senior BJP leader said liquid, powdered and condensed milk, cream, yoghurt, buttermilk, butter, ghee, butter oil, paneer, whey products and cheese will also not be permitted entry. "This will safeguard the livelihood of our farmer families," he added.
Chouhan also said that imports of several spices have also been excluded, including black pepper, cloves, dry green chillies, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, asafoetida, ginger, turmeric, ajwain, fenugreek, mustard, rai and other powdered spices.
Reiterating the government's position, he said India's agricultural policy remains focused on protecting domestic producers while ensuring the long-term health of the country's soil, seeds and food systems.
India and the United States have agreed on a framework for an interim trade pact, committing to cut import duties on select goods to push up bilateral trade. Under the arrangement, the US will slash tariffs on Indian exports from 50 per cent to 18 per cent, while India will remove or lower import duties on all American industrial goods and a broad basket of US food and agricultural products.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday dismissed the Opposition's claim of the Modi government's 'surrender' in the India-US interim trade deal, asserting that the Centre did not do any 'saudibaazi' (underhand dealing or bargain) and ensured "complete security" for the agricultural sector.
He also asserted that no provision in the current India-US interim trade deal will harm domestic farmers or compromise the purity of Indian agriculture.
"We did not do 'saudebazi' but did it (reached the deal) by a balanced approach with constructive dialogue," Chouhan said.
The senior BJP leader's remarks came after Congress claimed that India has not benefited from the trade agreement and that it is "not a deal but a surrender" of the country's self-esteem and interests.
Furthermore, Chouhan said no product has been included in any agreement that could adversely impact Indian farmers, and all sensitive agricultural items have been kept completely outside its scope. "Farmers' interests are paramount and protected. Not a single decision has been taken that puts them at risk," he said.
A key safeguard, the minister underlined, is India's firm stand against genetically modified imports.
"No genetically modified product of any kind will be allowed to enter India. This is a major decision to protect the purity of Indian agriculture, our soil and our seeds," Chouhan said.
He also clarified that the United States has not been given tariff concessions on a wide range of agricultural commodities. Products that will not be allowed in include meat, poultry, dairy, soybean, maize, rice, wheat, sugar, coarse grains, bananas, strawberries, cherries, citrus fruits, green peas, kabuli chana, moong, oilseeds, ethanol and tobacco.
"In addition, hulled grains and flour, potatoes, onions, peas, beans, cucumbers, mushrooms, frozen vegetables, oranges, grapes, lemons and mixed canned vegetables will not be imported into India," the minister said.
On dairy, the senior BJP leader said liquid, powdered and condensed milk, cream, yoghurt, buttermilk, butter, ghee, butter oil, paneer, whey products and cheese will also not be permitted entry. "This will safeguard the livelihood of our farmer families," he added.
Chouhan also said that imports of several spices have also been excluded, including black pepper, cloves, dry green chillies, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, asafoetida, ginger, turmeric, ajwain, fenugreek, mustard, rai and other powdered spices.
Reiterating the government's position, he said India's agricultural policy remains focused on protecting domestic producers while ensuring the long-term health of the country's soil, seeds and food systems.
India and the United States have agreed on a framework for an interim trade pact, committing to cut import duties on select goods to push up bilateral trade. Under the arrangement, the US will slash tariffs on Indian exports from 50 per cent to 18 per cent, while India will remove or lower import duties on all American industrial goods and a broad basket of US food and agricultural products.