&w=3840&q=100)
India will protect farmers' interest in US trade talks: Agri min Chouhan
Press Trust of India New Delhi
India will prioritise protecting its farmers' interests while assessing potential gains and losses in the ongoing trade negotiations with the United States over agricultural market access, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
"Our priority is to protect the interest of our farmers. India will not work closing its eyes. We will assess our gains and losses. Keeping that in mind, an agreement will be finalised," Chouhan told PTI in an interview.
He was responding to a query on how India would safeguard farmers amid US pressure for greater market access for American agricultural and horticultural products.
The negotiators are expected to agree on the framework for the broad contours of the first phase of the bilateral deal, expected to be signed by fall (September-October) 2025.
"The discussions are ongoing between India and the US. One thing is clear, we will protect the interest of our farmers. When we talk about two nations, we need to see the overall trade," the minister added.
According to a NITI Aayog report, "Promoting India-US Agricultural Trade under the new US Trade Regime", the value for US agriculture and allied product exports to India was about $2.22 billion in the triennium ending 2024.
In the same period, India exported $5.75 billion worth of agricultural products to the US.
India's main agricultural exports to the US include frozen shrimp, basmati rice, spices, processed cereals, and other value-added products.
The US wants to export more agricultural products such as corn, soybeans, and animal feed, but faces high Indian tariffs -- especially in agriculture, where average tariffs can reach up to 39-50 per cent.
The minister's comments come as India and the US continue negotiations on expanding agricultural trade, with Washington seeking reduced tariffs and improved market access for its farm products in the Indian market.
India is cautious about fully opening its agriculture and dairy markets due to concerns about potential backlash from rural communities and the need to protect domestic producers from global price volatility.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
13 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Fewer foreign trips, protocol lapses upset Dhankhar; former Vice President felt he had a diminished role
Former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, in his 35-month-long tenure, travelled abroad only four times for bilateral visits, and his office often had complained to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) over protocol issues, official sources told The Hindu. The differences over his MEA assignments were amongst the reasons for the discord between the former Vice-President and the government, and a source of grievance for Mr. Dhankhar, who felt his role, especially on foreign policy issues, was less than that of his predecessors. According to the MEA's website, Mr. Dhankhar's four visits included two that came shortly after he took over as Vice-President in August 2022, and subsequently the frequency of these visits tapered off. In comparison, his immediate predecessor Venkaiah Naidu had 13 foreign tours during his tenure between August 2017-2022, and Hamid Ansari represented India on 28 tours abroad during his decade-long tenure from 2007-2017. Mr. Dhankhar went to Cambodia (November 11-13, 2022), Qatar (November 20-21, 2022), U.K. (May 5-6, 2023) and Iran (May 2024). He was not scheduled for any tours this year, although sources said the MEA had proposed two visits abroad, in February and in June, which were turned down due to health reasons. According to the sources, Mr. Dhankhar had complained about what he saw as several protocol violations to several Opposition leaders over the past few months. One point of contention was that the Vice-President believed he received fewer visits from foreign dignitaries than in the past. The Vice-President's office was reportedly unhappy over his visit to Tehran, where he represented India at the funeral of President Ebrahim Raisi, who had died in a helicopter crash. The Iranian government's protocol officials were apparently overstretched as more than 40 high-level dignitaries attended the ceremonies, and the sources said Mr. Dhankhar was uneasy with the arrangements at Tehran's Parsian Azadi hotel during his day-long trip. Mr. Dhankhar's absence from the official banquet during U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance's trip in April this year also raised several eyebrows. On April 21, when Mr. Vance landed in Delhi, Mr. Dhankhar was on board a flight to Jaipur and returned to the Capital only after Mr. Vance had left. However, officials privy to the exchanges said that the Vice-President's office had not been informed of the programme of the U.S. Vice-President in advance, nor was he included in the programme. At the time, The Hindu had reported that a meeting between the two Vice-Presidents was not scheduled, as officials said it was not mandated by protocol due to differences in the Indian and U.S. government structure. Sources in the Vice-President's office said that despite the issues and his own health problems, Mr. Dhankhar carried out his diplomatic assignments to the full extent he was required to, pointing out where he felt there were gaps. On May 19, speaking at an event in Delhi, he referred to a protocol lapse in the reception line-up for Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, and said 'I too am a sufferer'. He pointed out that his photograph had not been kept in government offices alongside those of the President and Prime Minister, as he said they should be. 'Once I demit office, I'll ensure that my successor has a photograph,' he said, adding that when such complaints were made, they were 'not personal, but for the position held'.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
13 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Invesco sells Oberoi, Lodha shares worth ₹3,202 crore via open market
Investment management firm Invesco on Wednesday divested more than 2 crore shares of real estate firm Oberoi Realty and Lodha Developers for a total of Rs 3,202 crore through open market transactions. The US-based investment firm through its affiliate Invesco Developing Markets Fund offloaded a little over 1 crore equity shares or 2.95 per cent stake in Oberoi Realty, bulk deal data on the BSE showed. The company sold shares at Rs 1,754.26 apiece, taking the deal value to around Rs 1,883.21 crore. As of the June quarter, Invesco Developing Markets Fund owned a 3.01 per cent stake in Oberoi Realty. In a separate bulk deal on the NSE, Invesco Developing Markets Fund sold 95.25 lakh shares or nearly 1 per cent stake in Mumbai-based Lodha Developers. Shares were disposed of at Rs 1,384.93 apiece, taking the total value to Rs 1,319.24 crore. Meanwhile, SBI Mutual Fund bought 40.94 lakh shares or 1.13 per cent equity stake in Oberoi Realty for Rs 718.18 crore. The shares were acquired at an average price of Rs 1,754.10 per piece on the BSE. Details of the other buyers of Oberoi Realty's shares could not be ascertained on the BSE. Also, details of the buyers of Lodha Developers' shares could not be identified on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Shares of Lodha Developers (Macrotech) plunged 7.65 per cent to close at Rs 1,332 apiece on the NSE while the scrip of Oberoi Realty fell 3.23 per cent to close at Rs 1,766.60 apiece on the BSE. On Monday, Oberoi Realty reported a 28 per cent decline in its consolidated net profit to Rs 421.25 crore for the quarter ended in June on lower income. The net profit stood at Rs 584.51 crore in the year-ago period. Its total income fell to Rs 1,073.98 crore in the first quarter of this fiscal from Rs 1,441.95 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding year. On the operational front, the company has sold properties worth Rs 1,639 crore in the April-June quarter of 2025-26 fiscal.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
13 minutes ago
- First Post
Ahead of PM Modi's arrival in UK for landmark FTA signing, diaspora gears up for grand welcome
Modi is set to be greeted by cheering groups of community leaders, students and parliamentarians gathered in anticipation on the outskirts of London read more Diaspora groups in the UK have geared up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival in the UK on Wednesday evening for a 'historic' visit that centres around the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and refresh of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Modi is set to be greeted by cheering groups of community leaders, students and parliamentarians gathered in anticipation on the outskirts of London. They expressed excitement around the FTA that is expected to be signed during the bilateral discussions between PM Modi and British PM Keir Starmer on Thursday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'During my meeting with Prime Minister Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer, we will have the opportunity to further enhance our economic partnership, aimed at fostering prosperity, growth and job creation in both countries,' Modi said in his departure statement earlier on Wednesday. He highlighted the significant progress in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in recent years and noted that the collaboration between the two countries spans a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, technology, innovation, defence, education, research, sustainability, health and people-to-people ties. During his visit, Modi will also have an audience with King Charles III at one of his royal estates. 'It's a very significant visit because a historical agreement is being done between India and the UK,' said Kuldeep Shekhawat, President of the Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) diaspora group. 'It's a great achievement for both governments, and especially for the Indian diaspora, which is excited to see the Prime Minister here after so many years. He's again here for a very short visit, but at least we get a chance to greet him,' he said. This week marks Modi's fourth visit to the UK, following visits in 2015, 2018 and 2021 for the COP26 Summit in Scotland. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thursday will mark his third bilateral meeting with Starmer, following meetings on the sidelines of the G20 Summit last year and the G7 Summit in Canada last month. 'Prime Minister Modi has infused a new sense of optimism, energy and vibration to this relationship. There is so much happening between our countries,' said Lord Rami Ranger, prominent British Indian entrepreneur and House of Lords peer. 'India has leapfrogged in the last 10 years. Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, we are now equal. This Free Trade Agreement will be good for the world, good for Britain because India's economy is growing 6-7 per cent and the British economy is not going as fast, but now we can grow together,' he said. The negotiations for the FTA, which aims to double bilateral trade to USD 120 billion by 2030, were completed on May 6 and announced by Prime Ministers Modi and Starmer in a phone call at the time. The formal sign off on Thursday follows Cabinet approval in India and will then proceed for a lengthy ratification process by the British Parliament. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From London, Modi will travel to the Maldives at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu as the Guest of Honour of the island nation's independence celebrations.
