Piyush Goyal Defends India–US Interim Trade Framework, Rejects Opposition’s ‘Anti-Farmer’ Claims

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday strongly defended the India–US interim trade framework, dismissing opposition criticism and accusing certain political groups of attempting to mislead farmers despite clear safeguards built into the agreement.

Addressing concerns raised by opposition leaders, Goyal said claims that the deal was “anti-farmer” were factually incorrect and deliberately misleading. He stressed that the government had made no concessions on agricultural products under the framework and reiterated that no step had been taken that could harm farmers’ interests.

Balanced Agreement with Strong Safeguards

The minister emphasised that the interim framework strikes a carefully calibrated balance, expanding export opportunities for Indian industries and boosting business prospects for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while fully protecting the agricultural sector from import pressures.

“This agreement delivers export benefits to multiple sectors and, at the same time, safeguards and protects our farming community. These twin objectives have been achieved,” Goyal said, while crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for securing a favourable outcome for India.

Parliamentary Debate Not Mandatory, Says Minister

Responding to opposition demands for a parliamentary debate on the agreement, Goyal said decisions on parliamentary business rest with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

“What should or should not be taken up in Parliament will be decided by the Speaker and the Chairman. Not every issue can be discussed in Parliament; some matters need to be communicated directly to the people of the country,” he said.

Opposition Voices Concerns

Opposition leaders have expressed apprehension that the trade framework could place Indian farmers at a disadvantage. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh warned that any reduction or removal of duties on US agricultural imports could expose Indian farmers to competition from heavily subsidised American producers.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh also criticised the agreement, arguing that opening agricultural markets to the US could adversely impact rural livelihoods. He further accused the government of compromising national interests by scaling back imports of cheaper Russian oil under external pressure.

Key Features of the India–US Trade Framework

The India–US interim trade deal, announced after months of negotiations amid tariff-related tensions, provides for a reduction in reciprocal US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent.

In a joint statement, both countries said they would move swiftly to implement the framework while continuing discussions toward a comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

Agriculture Kept Outside Tariff Concessions

The government has reiterated that sensitive agricultural and dairy products have been excluded from tariff concessions to protect farmers and rural livelihoods. These include maize, wheat, rice, soya, poultry, meat, milk, cheese, ethanol (fuel), tobacco, and certain vegetables.

Highlighting the broader economic impact, Goyal described the framework as a major opportunity for Indian exporters, providing enhanced access to the $30 trillion US market, while maintaining robust safeguards for the domestic agricultural sector.