India will protect farmers’ interests in trade talks with the US

India’s Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that India will prioritize protecting the interests of its farmers in trade talks with the United States on agricultural market access.

“Our priority is to protect the interests of our farmers. India will not act with closed eyes. We will assess our gains and losses. Keeping that in mind, a deal will be made,” Chouhan told PTI in an interview.

He was responding to a question on how India will protect farmers amid US pressure to expand Indian market access for American agricultural and horticultural products.

The two sides are expected to agree on the framework of the first phase of the bilateral agreement, which is expected to be signed in the fall of 2025 (September-October).

“Negotiations between India and the US are ongoing. One thing is clear – we will protect the interests of our farmers. When it comes to trade between the two countries, the overall volume of trade needs to be considered,” the minister added.

Context of the talks

The talks between India and the US are part of a broader strategy to strengthen bilateral economic relations. The US is pushing for lower tariff barriers, particularly on products such as corn, soybeans and animal feed, which are important US exports.

Tags: India, USA