India-US Trade Agreement: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday lashed out at the Congress for questioning the India-US trade deal.. The former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh claimed that despite ruling for years, the Congress party failed to connect farmers with global markets or bring stability to the Indian economy.
The India-US agreement provides complete protection to the agriculture sector and keeps the interests of farmers and national interests paramount, Chouhan said, asserting the key agricultural products vital to growers were excluded from the agreement.
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“No product has been included in this deal that will cause even the slightest harm to Indian farmers,” a senior BJP leader told a press conference at his headquarters here.
Under the terms of the interim trade deal announced by New Delhi and Washington on Saturday, India will “eliminate or reduce tariffs on all American manufactured goods” and on other food and agricultural products.
The United States will apply a reciprocal tariff of 18 percent on goods from India, including textiles and clothing, leather and footwear, plastics and rubber, organic chemicals and some machinery, the joint statement added.
The terms were made public after US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with India on Monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to stop purchases of Russian oil.
A number of farmers’ organizations, including the Sayunk Kisan Morcha, its non-political separatist faction, and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) criticized the India-US trade deal and announced protests across the country on 12 February.
“Total surrender” of Indian agriculture
A statement issued here on Saturday, hours after a joint statement between the countries, said the proposed framework for an interim trade agreement between India and the United States represented a “complete surrender” of Indian agriculture American multinational corporations. The statement also demanded the immediate resignation of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
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The Congress on Saturday said that India does not benefit from the trade deal and that it is not a “deal but a capitulation” of the country’s self-respect and interests.
“A dumping ground for American products”
Congress media and publicity chief Pawan Khera also claimed that India will soon become a dumping ground for American products and will harm the interests of farmers and small and medium industries here.
Rejecting the allegations, Chouhan said opposition parties were creating unnecessary hue and cry that the deal would ruin agriculture and devastate farmers.
“Go deep and you will see – all those agricultural products that are the main strength of our farmers have been excluded from this agreement. The national interest is paramount, the interest of farmers is paramount,” he declared.
“Cong failed to connect farmers to global markets”
The Union Minister said that PM Modi said that he will not allow the country to bow down and will not allow any harm to the interests of farmers.
“You will see in this trade agreement that both these aspects have been fully taken into account,” the Union minister said.
He said the Congress ruled the country for years but neither connected farmers to any global market nor ensured stability and growth of the Indian economy.
“On the contrary, at the time of independence Indian economy was the sixth largest in the world. It moved up to the 11th position. Now we are moving quickly to the third position,” he pointed out.
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Chouhan further said that no tariff concessions were given to the US on products such as meat, poultry, dairy products, soy, maize, rice, wheat, sugar, coarse grains, bananas, strawberries, cherries, citrus fruits, green peas, chickpeas, moong, oilseeds, ethanol and tobacco.
He said that shelled grains and flour, potatoes, onions, peas, beans, cucumbers, mushrooms, frozen vegetables, oranges, grapes, lemons and mixed canned vegetables will also not enter India.
Dairy products such as liquid, dry and condensed milk, cream, yogurt, buttermilk, butter, ghee, butter oil, paneer, whey products and cheese will also not be allowed to enter India.
Spices, including black pepper, cloves, dried green chillies, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, asafoetida, ginger, turmeric, carom seeds, fenugreek, mustard, rai and other powdered spices, he informed. This would ensure that the livelihood of Indian farmer families remains secure, the agriculture minister said.
Congress on Saturday took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Interim Trade Agreement with the US, claims that the deal is against India’s interests and that all the “huglomacy and photo-ops” were not very high.
Yogi: Possibility of long-term employment
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the proposed India-US trade agreement will significantly boost the state’s export-based economy, provide structural support to SMEs and labor-intensive industries, and create long-term investment and employment opportunities.
Adityanath said the framework is a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “strong and visionary leadership” and will expand global opportunities for Indian exporters while protecting the interests of farmers and the rural economy.
No product was included in this agreement that would cause even the slightest harm to Indian farmers.
“Under the strong and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has reached a framework for an Interim Trade Agreement with the United States. This framework expands global opportunities for Indian exporters and SMEs while protecting India’s agriculture sector, food security, the interests of our farmers and the strength of the rural economy,” Adityanath said in a statement.
Key things
- The aim of the India-US trade agreement is to protect key agricultural products that are crucial for Indian farmers.
- Criticism from the opposition highlights concerns about potential negative impacts on Indian agriculture.
- The deal is part of a broader economic strategy to strengthen India’s position in global markets.