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India FTAs & agriculture

Farmer groups to step up campaign against FTA with US
22-Jul-2025 The Hindu
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) will observe August 13 as ‘Corporations Quit India Day’; the SKM said that the general body has called for nationwide protests against the deal as it could act against the interests of farmers.
Letter: The Indian Government must stop any trade deal with the USA that is detrimental to farmers’ interests – no interim FTA to be signed with the USA
18-Jul-2025 Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements
ICCFM strongly opposes the proposed interim free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States that includes the agricultural sector, citing severe negative impacts on Indian farmers’ interests. The letter stresses the need to exclude agriculture from such an agreement to safeguard India’s food sovereignty, food security, and rural economy.
Indian farmers reject proposed trade deals with West and prepare for July 9 national strike
9-Jul-2025 People Dispatch
Major Indian farmer’s groups have announced they will participate in the upcoming July 9 national strike call made by the central trade unions against the government’s anti-worker policies.
Kerala minister opposes India-US free trade agreement over agriculture concerns
7-Jul-2025 KNN
Kerala’s Agriculture Minister, P Prasad, has voiced strong opposition to the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement, raising alarm over its potential impact on India’s agricultural sector.
Indian agriculture should be kept out free trade agreement with US or other countries: SKM leaders
7-Jul-2025 The Hindu
Samyukta Kisan Morcha leaders warned that Indian agriculture should be kept out of any free trade agreement with the US or other countries.
Agriculture a ’red line’ in trade talks with US, Indian finance minister tells Financial Express
30-Jun-2025 Reuters
India’s agriculture and dairy are "big red lines" in its ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
India’s dairy sector pushes for safeguards in US trade talks
27-May-2025 Reuters
India, the world’s largest milk producer, must protect millions of small dairy farmers in its trade talks with the United States to avoid market disruption from any surge in US imports, industry officials said.
Farmers protest UK trade deal saying it’s a threat to agriculture and MSMEs
7-May-2025 The Hindu
Samyukt Kisan Morcha, allied unions allege pact enables ‘economic imperialism’, bypasses Parliamentary scrutiny, and endangers national interests.
US-India trade talks underway: Farm goods, ecommerce and data centre among 19 key sectors in focus
28-Apr-2025 Financial Express
19 categories of products are the focus of the ongoing negotiations. Data storage, Ecommerce, farm products and critical minerals are the key sectors in the discussion.
Protests erupt at Sonamura over free trade agreements
22-Apr-2025 Tripura Chronicle
Protests against free trade agreements in agriculture, fisheries, and dairy took center stage across the Sonamura subdivision.
Farm concessions in focus in India-US trade deal
22-Apr-2025 Hindustan Times
The US seeks preferential access for farm goods in a trade deal with India, while India insists on fair treatment for its developing economy.
India holds firm on agricultural tariffs as US pushes for trade concessions
28-Mar-2025 CNBC TV18
Excluding dairy and agriculture-based products from the US-India agreement to protect the interests of local farmers is facing resistance from Washington, which is demanding lower tariffs on all products.
Why agriculture remains a sticking point in EU-India trade talks
11-Mar-2025 Euractiv
India and the EU kick off a new round of trade negotiations, with the aim of finalising what could be Europe’s largest trade deal by the end of the year.
US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick urges India to lower tariffs for successful trade deal
10-Mar-2025 Hindustan Times
Howard Lutnick said that India should consider opening up sensitive sectors like agriculture, which it has traditionally protected to safeguard small farmers.
Agriculture key focus in early India-US trade talks
7-Mar-2025 Hindustan Times
India and the US are actively discussing a trade deal, with a key focus on agricultural produce. Despite sensitivities surrounding agricultural lobbies, both countries see potential for increased market access through tariff reductions and the removal of non-tariff barriers. The discussions emphasize "complementarities," aiming to avoid harming domestic farming communities.
EU needs to rethink FTAs, look for ‘shortcut’ for deal with India, says German vice chancellor
25-Oct-2024 The Print
Agriculture is the "most problematic" area in talks to secure a free trade deal between India and the European Union, German Economy Minister said, suggesting that it would be better to focus on the industrial sector first.
Dairy sensitive sector; no plans to open up in any FTAs: Piyush Goyal
25-Sep-2024 Business Standard
India’s dairy sector remains protected from duty concessions under FTAs to safeguard small farmers’ livelihoods. Despite discussions with trading partners like Switzerland, Norway, and Australia, India has maintained its stance on protecting the dairy industry. While open to trade, India imposes customs duties on dairy products to ensure a level playing field for its domestic farmers.
Free trade frenzy: the hidden costs of South Asia’s economic gamble
6-Jun-2024 GRAIN
As debt pressures rise, South Asia’s economic strategies are increasingly revolving around FTAs. The frenzy, however, is not only reshaping the region’s trade dynamics, but also a wide array of national legal frameworks, from labour rights to agriculture policies.
Farmers’ protest: March to restart amid tight security at Delhi’s borders
8-Mar-2024 BBC
The farmers want India to withdraw from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and scrap all free trade agreements.
Farmers’ Protest: Why are farmers demanding India’s withdrawal from WTO?
14-Feb-2024 DNA
Farmers started protesting with a new set of demands including India’s withdrawal from the World Trade Organization and scrapping all Free Trade Agreements.