Food, farms safe: Piyush Goyal defends US deal
The Centre on Wednesday assured the Parliament that the country’s core sensitivities in food and agriculture have been fully safeguarded in the India-US trade deal, and the pact will enhance export competitiveness of Indian products in the American market. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made a statement on the trade deal first in the Lok Sabha and later in the Rajya Sabha amid disruptions by Opposition MPs, who sought clarifications but were not allowed by the Chair.
Making a statement soon after the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said that following the visit of Prime Minister Modi to the US in February 2025, India and the US have been engaged in regular discussions with the objective of concluding a balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement. The negotiating teams of the two sides have engaged intensively over the last year at various levels.
“Given the significant and varied interests of the two sides, it is natural that both sides would want to ensure the best possible outcome while safeguarding critical and sensitive sectors in their respective economies,” the minister said.Several Opposition parties had been asking the Government to make a statement in Parliament following the announcement of the deal by US President Donald Trump on Monday evening and later Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s social media message in this regard.
During the course of these negotiations, Goyal said, the Indian side was able to do this, in particular, by ensuring that the interests of our agriculture and dairy sectors were protected. The US side, too, had areas that were sensitive from its point of view.
“PM Modi and President Trump spoke over the phone to discuss multiple issues of bilateral and international significance. Subsequently, President Trump announced a reduced rate of 18 per cent for Indian exports to the US,” Goyal informed the Parliament
In terms of next steps, Goyal said, the two sides will now work together to complete the necessary technical processes and finalise the paperwork related to the trade deal, so as to expeditiously unlock its potential. The detailed contours of the agreement will be announced shortly after completion of these processes, he informed Parliament.
Goyal further said that issues related to India’s energy sourcing that have been raised in the context of discussions on the agreement, “I wish to clarify once again, as the Government has stated publicly on several occasions that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the supreme priority of the Government”.
“Diversifying our energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy to ensure this. All of India’s actions are taken with this in mind. I would therefore urge the Hon’ble members to consider these issues in their proper perspective,” Goyal added.
Soon after Goyal finished his statement in the Rajya Sabha, Opposition members sought clarifications, which were not allowed by Chairman C P Radhakrishnan.
