Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday underlined the government’s commitment to protecting farmers’ interests while finalising the framework of the India–US bilateral trade agreement.
In a statement, the minister said that key agricultural sectors, including dairy, fruits, vegetables, spices and grains, have been fully protected under the India–US trade framework to safeguard domestic farmers.
In a post on X, Goyal said the agreement marked a strong step towards building a self-reliant India.
“Farmers safe, country developed. In the India–US trade agreement, dairy, fruits, vegetables, spices and other grains have been protected. This will safeguard the interests of domestic farmers, strengthen local agriculture and mark another powerful step forward towards a self-reliant India,” he said.
The minister also shared details of the products protected under the agreement. These include restrictions on the import of frozen vegetables such as potatoes, peas, cucumbers, gherkins, beans and other legumes, as well as temporarily preserved vegetables, mushrooms and mixed canned vegetables.
Protected dairy products include milk in liquid and powdered forms, cheese, cream, butter, yoghurt, buttermilk, whey products and ghee.
The government has also ensured protection for a wide range of grains, including ragi, wheat, maize, millet, rice, barley, oats, sorghum, copra and various flours. Spices such as black pepper, dried chillies, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, asafoetida, ginger, turmeric, fenugreek, mustard and other powdered spices have also been excluded from import concessions.
Details of the India–US trade framework were revealed earlier on Saturday.
In a statement, the White House said India would eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits.
As part of broader economic engagement, India has expressed its intention to purchase USD 500 billion worth of US energy products, aircraft and aircraft parts, precious metals, technology products and coking coal over the next five years.
Both sides also agreed to expand trade in technology products, including graphics processing units used in data centres, strengthen joint technology cooperation and address barriers to digital trade. A pathway for mutually beneficial digital trade rules under the bilateral trade agreement has also been outlined.
India and the United States said they would promptly implement the framework and work towards finalising the Interim Agreement, with the objective of concluding a comprehensive and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement in line with the agreed roadmap.
-ANI
