India Prioritizes Farmers' Welfare in U.S. Trade Talks

09-Jun-2025 01:37 PM

New Delhi. The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister has stressed that in the ongoing talks for a bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States, priority will be given to protecting the interests of the Indian farming community. Assessing the potential impact of the agreement on Indian agriculture, the minister stated that the interests of Indian farmers will not be compromised. The government’s primary objective is to safeguard farmers' welfare, and no decision will be made without careful consideration. The agreement will be finalized only after evaluating the potential benefits and losses.

The United States is pushing for greater market access for its agricultural products in India, particularly maize and soybean. Negotiators are expected to soon prepare a detailed draft and finalize the framework of the first phase of the bilateral agreement. This phase is expected to be signed between September and October 2025. According to the Agriculture Minister, while the negotiations are ongoing, the government remains committed to defending the interests of its agricultural sector. Trade agreements must be viewed holistically, where both sides aim to maximize gains and minimize losses.

A report by NITI Aayog highlights that under the evolving U.S. trade and tariff policies, agricultural trade between India and the U.S. must be encouraged. In recent years, agricultural products worth about $2.20 billion were exported from the U.S. to India, while India exported agricultural and allied products worth $5.75 billion to the U.S. Key Indian exports include Basmati rice, spices, cashews, and seafood.