Parliament uproar on the India-US trade pact has now sparked open anger from farmers. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) warns that zero import duties on US farm goods will crush Indian growers. They claim subsidized American products will flood local markets and hit home farming hard. Government insists full details aren’t out yet and sensitive areas like crops and dairy stay protected. Here’s what key players are saying.
SKM calls the deal a betrayal of farmers. The group says US hands huge subsidies to its growers, making their output cheap. Such items entering India would wipe out small and marginal farmers. SKM accuses the government of buckling under US pressure. They warn it threatens the entire farming sector. Note that SKM led the 2020-21 protests and still speaks for farmers in talks.
Government dismisses farmer worries as baseless. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stressed full safeguards for agriculture and dairy. He assured every angle was covered in talks with no compromises on sensitive spots. India and US will soon release a joint statement with all facts. Goyal added the pact opens doors for India’s textiles, leather, gems and jewelry, footwear, and manufacturing.
US remarks have fueled the row. President Donald Trump claimed India will drop tariffs to zero on US goods and buy 500 billion dollars worth from America. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said it benefits US farmers big time with India as a key market. Trade Rep Jamison Greer noted India agrees to cut duties on many US farm and industrial items, though India keeps control in vital areas.
Rahul Gandhi blasts Modi for “selling” farmers’ hard work to US pressure. Opposition demands clear answers. Congress’s Jairam Ramesh says government is easing farm imports. Goyal hit back at Gandhi for misleading the nation. Till full deal papers surface, farmer angst and political fights won’t cool.
Trump made the announcement Monday on the long-discussed pact. US will slash reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25 to 18 percent. In return, India moves to zero out its tariffs and non-tariff barriers on US items. Trump said India will buy over 500 billion dollars in energy and more from US, strengthening trade bonds.
PM Modi thanked Trump on X, confirming the tariff drop to 18 percent. He said chatting with Trump was a pleasure and it boosts “Made in India” exports hugely. When world’s top economies and biggest democracies team up, people gain and new ties bloom. Modi skipped other deal specifics in the post.
