Punjab Farm Groups Voice Alarm Over India-US Trade Deal's Agricultural Impact
Farm organizations across Punjab have once again articulated profound apprehension regarding the prospective consequences of the India-United States trade agreement on the agricultural sector. This renewed concern emerged following assertions from US officials suggesting the pact could entail the elimination of tariffs on numerous American imports, including specific agricultural commodities.
Contradictory Statements Fuel Distrust
The latest wave of anxiety was triggered after US press secretary Karoline Leavitt's remarks appeared to contradict assurances provided by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who had pledged protection for India's agriculture and dairy industries. This discrepancy has significantly eroded trust among farming communities.
Sarvan Singh Pandher, a leader of the farm forum Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, voiced the collective skepticism, stating, "We have no faith in the government as the NDA government failed to honor its commitments made to farmers regarding Minimum Support Price and other demands on December 9, 2021, when protests were lifted. Furthermore, the central government did not prevent former US President Donald Trump from claiming mediation in regional skirmishes. How can we blindly believe governmental assurances without documented proof, especially when US officials, from the Secretary of Agriculture to the White House press secretary, are openly discussing exporting agricultural products to India at zero tariff?"
Calls for Transparency and Government Accountability
Echoing the demand for clarity, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, leader of SKM (Non-Political), insisted that the details of the trade agreement must be made publicly accessible. "Farmers are deeply worried about the claims made by US agriculture officials. It is the unequivocal duty of the central government to address these apprehensions transparently, provided they have nothing to conceal," Dallewal emphasized.
The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) also dismissed Minister Goyal's assertions that India's sensitive agricultural and dairy sectors were excluded from the trade deal. The group highlighted that the agreement was formally announced by former President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi via social media on February 2, raising questions about the extent of protections.
"The Prime Minister's silence on this critically sensitive issue, which impacts the livelihoods of crores of working people across India, is concerning," SKM stated in an official release.
Warnings of Renewed Agitation and Economic Implications
SKM issued a stern warning, indicating that the nation could witness a resurgence of the large-scale farmers' protests seen in 2020-21 if any agricultural or dairy products are incorporated into the US trade agreement.
The organization pointed out a direct contradiction between Goyal's statements and those of US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. According to Rollins, the deal is designed to boost exports of American farm products to India's vast market, thereby increasing prices and injecting capital into rural America, with the goal of reducing the US's $1.3-billion agricultural trade deficit with India.
Labeling Goyal's comments as "unscrupulous and aimed at misleading the public, particularly the farming community," SKM's Wednesday release underscored the deepening rift between governmental assurances and the perceived realities of the trade negotiations.
The ongoing discourse underscores a pivotal moment for India's agricultural policy, as stakeholders demand unequivocal safeguards and transparent dialogue to protect domestic interests amidst evolving global trade dynamics.
