Panjab Farm Unions Oppose US Trade Delegation Visit to India

Panjab farmer unions are strongly opposing the visit of a delegation from the US to India to ink trade deals, including with the agriculture sector. The unions say, the US has already announced from 2 Apr it will impose heavy tariffs on goods imported from India. This will twist the arm of the union government to bow down to US imperialism. If this agreement is signed, India will have to reduce taxes on US agricultural products so they get supremacy in the Indian market. The opening of the Indian market will mean that the crisis in the country's agricultural sector will deepen further and farmers will get even lesser prices on their produce. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) President Joginder Singh Ugrahan and General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan have issued a statement saying, 'There will be blind looting of farmers' crops and increase in farm loans that are already forcing farmers and laborers to commit suicides. This will expose the Modi govt.'s so-called patriotism.’ Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has seriously viewed the meek response of the union govt. on the threat of reciprocal tariffs by the US President Donald Trump to force a reduction of tariffs on imports of goods including agricultural and dairy products from the US. SKM’s National Coordination Committee has decided to convene a one day meeting of the National Council (General Body) on 21 Apr at New Delhi to decide on the future plan of action. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said concerns over allowing US agricultural products into the Indian market were known to them and the negotiators should be trusted to ensure India’s best interests. However, given how in the past the union govt. has prioritized industry and neglected the agrarian sector, there isn’t much scope to trust the govt. to address the farmers’ concerns (earlier coverage).