New Delhi/Washington, August 8: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday vowed not to compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen, and dairy producers, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to double tariffs on Indian imports to 50%, including agricultural goods.
Speaking at the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi, Modi said India was prepared to bear the economic consequences of resisting U.S. demands to open up its agricultural sector.
“For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority,” Modi said. “India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. I know we will have to pay a heavy price for it, and I am ready for it. India is ready for it.”
Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on all Indian imports, citing national security and foreign policy concerns. The order claimed that India’s continued imports of Russian oil posed an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.
The additional levy will take effect in 21 days and will apply to all Indian goods entering the U.S., except those already in transit or exempted under specific conditions.
Washington has long sought greater access to India’s agricultural markets, particularly for corn, soybeans, and cotton. However, New Delhi has resisted such openings over concerns about domestic livelihoods and the potential impact on small farmers.
India’s government has not indicated any willingness to alter its position, with Modi’s latest remarks reinforcing a hardline stance on agricultural protections amid mounting trade tensions.
The U.S. order allows for future adjustments, depending on retaliatory actions or changes in Russia and India’s behaviour related to the cited national emergency.
During the same event, Modi released a commemorative coin and stamp in honour of MS Swaminathan, the late agricultural scientist credited with ushering in India’s Green Revolution in the 1960s. Swaminathan, born on August 7, 1925, in Kumbakonam, passed away in September 2023 at the age of 98.
Swaminathan’s pioneering work in introducing high-yielding wheat varieties and modern farming methods is widely regarded as having lifted millions of Indian farmers out of poverty.
