NEW DELHI: Opposition leaders on Saturday criticised the India-US Interim Trade Agreement framework, accusing the government of compromising India’s interests and raising concerns over its impact on farmers, tariffs, and oil imports.Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala warned that the agreement could harm farmers and rural livelihoods. He said, “A blow has been delivered to the stomachs of India’s 720 million farmers. Work has been done to snatch away the livelihood of India’s 720 million food providers, farm labourers, and farmers.”
He also raised concerns over agricultural imports from the US. “US corn, US soybeans, US sorghum (jowar), US walnuts, almonds, pistachios, fresh fruits like apples and oranges, processed fruits, and other ‘additional’ agricultural products will all flood the Indian market,” he said.Surjewala questioned the government on possible impacts. “We are already importing $334 million worth of cotton from the US, which has caused cotton prices for Indian farmers to crash. Now, with corn, cotton, sorghum, fruits, processed fruits, and soybeans coming from the US, I ask PM Modi and Piyush Goyal: what will happen to India’s farmers? Where will they go?” he said.Congress leader Pawan Khera also attacked the government over the India-US Interim Trade Agreement, questioning what he called a shift in India’s diplomatic posture. “Where is the India which used to look Nixon, George Bush and Obama in the eye and forge practical relations?” he asked. Khera alleged that the interests of ordinary Indians were being undermined, saying, “This is not an agreement with the US, but a compromise with our self-respect.” He said those projecting the framework as a success were aware of its implications. “This is not a deal, but a surrender,” he said, adding that the opposition was being stopped from raising these issues in Parliament because the government feared scrutiny over the terms of the agreement.RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha also criticised the tariff changes and accused the government of misleading the public. “On most things, our tariff, in the worst of times and the best of times, was 2.9%. Through threats, it was raised to 50%. Then it was reduced to 18%. Is this something to celebrate? Aren’t you misleading the entire nation?” he said.He warned that the deal could lead to public anger once its full impact is known. “When this takes further shape and comes to the forefront, there will be unrest on the streets,” Jha said.On Saturday, India and the US announced a framework for an Interim Agreement on reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade, as part of broader negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement.
