Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday strongly defended the India–United States interim trade framework and accused opposition parties of spreading confusion among farmers by making misleading claims about the agreement.
Speaking to reporters, Goyal said the government has not made any compromise that could affect Indian agriculture. He stressed that protecting farmers was a key priority during the negotiations with the US.
“There are certain political voices that try to create fear among farmers. They are uncomfortable with the fact that no agricultural concessions have been given under the India–US trade framework,” Goyal said. He added that the agreement was carefully designed to ensure that farmers’ interests remain fully protected.
Responding to demands from the opposition for a detailed discussion on the trade deal in Parliament, the minister clarified that such decisions do not lie with the government alone. According to Goyal, parliamentary procedures are guided by constitutional authorities.
“What issues come up for discussion in Parliament is decided by the Speaker and the Chairman. Every matter cannot always be debated inside the House. Some decisions need to be communicated directly to the people of India,” he said.
Goyal also outlined the wide range of Indian products that will gain duty-free access to the US market under the interim framework. He said this would significantly boost exports and create new opportunities for Indian businesses, especially MSMEs and farmers.
Key products expected to benefit include gems and jewellery, generic medicines, smartphones, and several agricultural and food items. These include spices, tea, coffee, coconut, cashew nuts, fruits such as mango, banana and avocado, mushrooms, vegetable planting materials, cereals like barley, bakery goods, and processed items such as jams.
The interim trade framework between India and the US was announced earlier this week after prolonged negotiations aimed at easing tariff pressures between the two countries. As part of the arrangement, the United States will reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent.
Both nations have also agreed to move swiftly toward implementing the framework while continuing talks for a broader and more comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement in the future.
