https://sputniknews.in/20250422/indian-farmers-protest-tariff-talks-with-us-during-jd-vances-visit-9009138.html
Indian Farmers Protest Tariff Talks with US During JD Vance's Visit
Indian Farmers Protest Tariff Talks with US During JD Vance's Visit
Sputnik India
Farmer groups in India have expressed concerns that the ongoing tariff reduction talks with the US could significantly affect Indian dairy, livestock and cotton farmers.
2025-04-22T20:29+0530
2025-04-22T20:29+0530
2025-04-22T20:29+0530
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Farmer and civil society groups in India have expressed concern over "pressure" being exerted by the Trump administration to open up the Indian market to United States agricultural exports, warning that such a decision would spell a "death knell" for Indian farmers.The statement opposed any "unequal agreements in agriculture, dairy, fisheries in the name of free trade".The statement noted that successive US governments have been pressuring India to reduce "tariff and non-tariff barriers" on American agricultural products.The statement, signed by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Samiti (MKSS), Right to Food campaigners, civil society groups, and various organisations including the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), was released during US Vice-President JD Vance's official visit to India.Vance and his family arrived in Jaipur on Tuesday after engagements in New Delhi, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. He will visit Agra before concluding his three-city tour on April 24, according to an Indian advisory."The United States welcomed the tariff reductions India implemented during the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Trump in February and its willingness to further reduce tariffs on US products as part of the BTA," the US statement said, though India is yet to officially confirm this claim.The USTR statement noted that Indian tariffs on US agricultural products stood at 39%, as compared to 5% imposed by the US on Indian farm imports.The statement by Indian groups also raised concerns over the fate of Indian students in the US, who constitute the largest international cohort of all nationalities (Open Doors data) on American university campuses. According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), nearly 50% of the 327 international students whose visas have been revoked by the Trump administration hail from India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a briefing last week that the Indian Embassy and Consulates are in touch with these students.The US ranks as India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade accounting for around $129.2 billion in 2024, according to official estimates. The US ran a trade deficit of $45.1 billion with India in 2024, which has provoked the ire of US President Donald Trump. As part of his Liberation Day tariffs announced on 2 April, Trump imposed 26% tariffs on Indian imports (excluding pharmaceuticals). The reciprocal tariffs were later paused by 90 days till 9 July.
https://sputniknews.in/20250310/india-must-prioritise-interests-of-farmers-in-us-trade-talks-rss-ally-8849161.html
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Indian Farmers Protest Tariff Talks with US During JD Vance's Visit
Farmer groups in India have raised concerns that ongoing tariff reduction talks with the US could negatively impact dairy, livestock, and cotton farmers, amid the official visit of US Vice-President JD Vance to India.
Farmer and civil society groups in India have expressed concern over "pressure" being exerted by the Trump administration to open up the Indian market to United States agricultural exports, warning that such a decision would spell a "death knell" for Indian farmers.
"This would result in US dairy exports to India surge once tariffs and market restrictions are lifted, affecting the Rajasthan economy drastically, as it is heavily dependent on cattle and livestock products, including dairy and wool production," according to a joint statement shared with Sputnik India.
The statement opposed any "unequal agreements in agriculture, dairy, fisheries in the name of
free trade".
"Similarly, there is pressure to lift India’s import ban on genetically modified maize as well as ethanol, from which the US is expected to reap windfall gains. We are angry that such deals would throw the already vulnerable Indian cotton farmers in a worse condition," it said.
The statement noted that successive US governments have been pressuring India to reduce "tariff and non-tariff barriers" on American agricultural products.
The statement, signed by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Samiti (MKSS), Right to Food campaigners, civil society groups, and various organisations including the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), was released during US Vice-President JD Vance's official visit to India.
Vance and his family arrived in Jaipur on Tuesday after engagements in New Delhi, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. He will visit Agra before concluding his three-city tour on April 24, according to an Indian advisory.
According to the Indian Prime Minister’s Office, there has been "significant progress" in bilateral trade agreement (BTA) talks. A US Trade Representative statement said both countries have finalised the "terms of reference" for the pact.
"The United States welcomed the tariff reductions India implemented during the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Trump in February and its willingness to further reduce tariffs on US products as part of the BTA," the US statement said, though India is
yet to officially confirm this claim.
The USTR statement noted that Indian tariffs on US agricultural products stood at 39%, as compared to 5% imposed by the US on Indian farm imports.
Further, the joint statement noted concerns of different Indian sectors, ranging from generic pharmaceuticals, automobile parts exporters, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), due to the ongoing tariff reduction talks.
The statement by Indian groups also raised concerns over the fate of Indian students in the US, who constitute the largest international cohort of all nationalities (Open Doors data) on American university campuses. According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), nearly 50% of the 327 international students whose visas have been revoked by the Trump administration hail from India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a briefing last week that the Indian Embassy and Consulates are in touch with these students.
Further, the Indian groups have accused Vance of supporting an online campaign targeting Indian immigrants in the US and allegedly backing an X account which called for "normalising Indian hate".
The US ranks as India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade accounting for around $129.2 billion in 2024, according to official estimates. The US ran a trade deficit of $45.1 billion with India in 2024, which has provoked the ire of US President Donald Trump. As part of his Liberation Day tariffs announced on 2 April, Trump imposed 26% tariffs on Indian imports (excluding pharmaceuticals). The reciprocal tariffs were later paused by 90 days till 9 July.
