India safeguarded farmers’ and dairy interests in US trade deal, Piyush Goyal tells Parliament amid uproar

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the third straight day as the opposition demanded clarity on the India-US trade agreement, accusing the government of compromising farmers’ interests

PGurus Newsdesk

February 4, 2026

India-US trade deal: Goyal says India held firm on agriculture, opposition cries foul

Opposition stalls Lok Sabha over US trade pact

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday asserted that the government had successfully safeguarded the interests of farmers and dairy producers in the India-US trade agreement, even as the Lok Sabha witnessed chaotic scenes and was adjourned amid opposition protests for the third consecutive day.

As Goyal rose to address the House, opposition members shouted slogans and drowned out his remarks, demanding detailed disclosures on the agreement’s impact on agriculture and allied sectors. The disruptions forced the House to be adjourned till 2 pm.

The protests come a day after US President Donald Trump announced the trade deal on social media, even as both governments are yet to release a detailed official statement outlining the framework and timeline for implementation.

‘Sensitive sectors protected’

In the brief window during which he could be heard, Goyal stressed that India had drawn clear red lines during negotiations and ensured that price-sensitive sectors remained protected.

“During the discussions, the Indian side was successful in safeguarding the interests of its sensitive sectors, especially agriculture and dairy,” Goyal said. “After nearly a year of negotiations, both sides were able to give final shape to various aspects of the bilateral trade agreement.”

He added that while both countries sought to protect their core interests, India ensured that farmers and dairy producers were not exposed to unfair competition.

Government sources have consistently maintained that India did not concede market access in politically sensitive areas such as dairy and staple agricultural commodities, which had earlier stalled the negotiations due to US demands.

Tariff relief, export push

Under the agreement, US reciprocal tariffs on a wide range of Indian exports will be reduced from 50 per cent to 18 per cent—a move expected to provide significant relief to labour-intensive and export-oriented sectors.

Goyal said the deal would open new opportunities in textiles, jewellery, engineering goods and other labour-intensive industries, benefiting MSMEs and boosting initiatives such as Make in India and Design in India.

He also pointed out that India would enjoy a tariff advantage over several competing exporters. “Vietnam continues to face reciprocal tariffs of 20 per cent, while Bangladesh faces 19 per cent,” Goyal noted, arguing that the deal improves India’s competitiveness in the US market.

Opposition attack intensifies

The opposition, led by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, has accused the government of secrecy and alleged that farmers’ interests were “sold out” under pressure from Washington.

In sharp remarks to reporters on Tuesday, Gandhi claimed the Prime Minister was under “extreme pressure” and alleged that the agreement had been rushed through without transparency. “Modiji sold your hard work… sold the country,” he said.

Opposition MPs have also questioned reports from the US side, including comments by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who claimed India agreed to stop buying Russian oil, increase energy purchases from the US and Venezuela, and commit to investments worth $500 billion in the United States.

Talks began in early 2025

Negotiations for the trade agreement began in early 2025 and involved multiple rounds of discussions at official and ministerial levels. Goyal has previously said that sectors such as fisheries and seafood exports are expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries.

For now, however, the lack of an official, detailed joint statement continues to fuel political confrontation in Parliament, with the opposition vowing to keep up pressure until the government places the full terms of the agreement on record.

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