India-US Trade Deal: Impact on Farmers & Economy

New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI) Opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday expressed apprehensions that the India–US trade deal could deal a severe blow to farmers and adversely impact the Indian economy.

Participating in a debate on the Demands for Grants for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for 2026-27, RJD's Sudhakar Singh claimed the deal will allow US farmers to export farm products at zero duty, while Indian farmers will have to pay 18 per cent duty for their exports to America.

"This will be a big blow to the income of farmers and will break the backbone of the Indian agriculture sector," he claimed.

He also wondered what happened to the "promise of MSP guarantee to farmers" that was "made while withdrawing" the three central farm laws.

If the government provides the MSP guarantee, he said, farmers will make India self-sufficient in pulses and oil seeds and the country can save about Rs 2 lakh crore of foreign exchange spent on importing these two items.

He also demanded that the subsidy on fertilisers should be diverted to farmers who are the end consumers.

Singh also pressed for a debt waiver for farmers, arguing that if the government can "write off loans worth Rs 17 lakh crore for corporates, it should also consider providing at least Rs 5 lakh crore in support to the ' 'annadata'".


Raising concerns over PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), CPI(M) MP Amara Ram claimed the scheme favours companies and farmers are getting a raw deal.

Ram further said that the proposed bilateral trade deal with the US is going to harm the interests of Indian farmers and benefit the US farmers greatly.

"It must be noted that if farmers prosper, India would progress, and if farmers suffer, the country's economy would decline," he said.

Charanjit Singh Channi (Congress) demanded that the government address the "discrepancies" in the PM Fasal Bima Yojana and make in more farmer-friendly.

On the issue of the bilateral trade deal, Channi expressed surprise that the government is "silent" on it and that only the US Administration is talking and all information and details are coming from Washington.

"If the trade deal in the present form is implemented, the Indian agriculture sector would be ruined and the country's economy would suffer," he claimed.

Naresh Chandra Uttam Patel of the Samajwadi Party urged the government not to allow the import of soybean, dairy products and cattle fodder from abroad, as it would "financially cripple" the farmers involved in these sectors.

Patel also demanded that the government should increase the amount paid under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).