**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2693, posed on August 5, 2025, regarding the potential impact of the Indo-U.S. trade deal on the Indian agricultural sector. The question specifically addresses concerns raised by farmer organizations regarding the potential for cheaper American agricultural products to negatively affect Indian crop prices and farmer incomes. It also asks about formal opinions solicited from farmer unions, cooperatives, and State Governments, and whether the government has considered the potential negative impacts on crop prices and farmer income.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, responded that India is actively engaged in discussions on the India-USA Bilateral Trade Agreement. The agreement aims to expand trade and investment, deepen the U.S.-India trade relationship, and promote growth with fairness, national security, and job creation, especially in labor-intensive sectors including agriculture. Discussions are focused on an integrated approach to strengthen bilateral trade by increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and deepening supply chain integration. The Minister assured that the livelihood interests of Indian farmers and food security requirements are paramount considerations in these negotiations.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare: A department of the Government of India responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
LOK SABHA: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
05TH AUGUST 2025: Date of answering of question in LOK SABHA
IndoUS Trade Deal: A proposed trade agreement between India and the United States.
SHRI KULDEEP INDORA: A member of LOK SABHA who raised a question about the IndoUS trade deal.
American: Refers to products originating from the United States of America.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
IndiaUSA Bilateral Trade Agreement: Another reference to the proposed trade agreement between India and the United States.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2693
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05TH AUGUST 2025
INDO-US TRADE DEAL IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
2693. SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether several farmers' organisations across the country have demanded complete
exclusion of agriculture sector from the Indo-US trade deal as it may lead to cheaper if
American products coming to the Indian market, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of formal opinion sought by the Government from various farmer unions,
cooperatives and State Governments on the said issue;
(c) whether the Government has considered the possibility that if American agricultural
products enter the open market, there could be a negative impact on both crop prices and
income of Indian farmers; and
(d) if not, whether the Government is formulating any clear policy to protect the interests
of farmers, such as inclusion of income security guarantee, tariff protection and conditions
giving priority to domestic production in this agreement?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (d): India is actively involved in the discussions on the India-USA Bilateral Trade
Agreement which aims at expanding trade and investment and deepening the U.S. - India
trade relationship to promote growth that ensures fairness, national security and job
creation, especially in labour intensive sector including agricultural products. The ongoing
discussions are focussed on how to take an integrated approach to strengthen and deepen
bilateral trade by mutually increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers,
and deepening supply chain integration.
Further, the livelihood interests of our farmers and requirements of food security have
always been paramount for the Government while negotiating trade agreements with our
international partners including the US.
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