No Compromise on Agriculture, Dairy in India-US Trade Deal, Says Goyal
No Compromise on Agriculture, Dairy in India-US Trade Deal, Says Goyal
Piyush Goyal says India won’t compromise on key sensitive sectors in the India-US trade deal, highlighting a win-win path for consumers.
New Delhi — India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in a candid interview that New Delhi’s position in negotiations with Washington over the India-US trade deal is clear: there will be 'absolutely no compromise' on sectors India deems sensitive, including agriculture, dairy and sugar. He framed the negotiations as a win‑win for India and noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has guided the government to respect others’ sensitivities while ensuring India’s own red lines are protected.
On specific products, Goyal stressed that India has not opened up its market for soya bean, apart from a quota for soya bean oil, which cannot be imported freely. 'We have not compromised on soya bean, it cannot come. We have only given a quota in soya bean oil but have not opened up soya bean, it is not allowed to be imported,' he said, highlighting that India remains a major importer of soya bean oil since 2004. He warned that concessions in sensitive areas would be a zero-sum game for consumers because more options and better quality depend on careful balancing.
Asked about other sectors, he reiterated the strict stance: 'There’s absolutely no compromise on maize, absolutely no compromise on dairy, absolutely no compromise on GM products, absolutely no compromise.' He argued that, where there are sensitivities, the government will not soften its lines, even as it seeks to secure faster access in areas where India is ready to engage, such as ICT, technology goods, and agricultural products that do not infringe on core protections.
Goyal also described energy imports from the United States as strategic decisions rather than obligations under the trade pact, noting that buyers and companies decide actual purchases. He stressed that free trade agreements are tools to boost competitiveness, not blanket waivers.
Beyond the immediate talks, he linked the negotiations to a long‑term national vision. He said the deal should fit India's development goals under the Viksit Bharat 2047 plan and that the approach reflects both firmness and trust, with Modi guiding a balancing act that respects global sensitivities while advancing India's consumer interests.
