Even as government sources asserted “zero compromise” on farmers’ interests in the just-inked India–US trade deal, insisting that “India’s agriculture and dairy sector will be protected,” the development sparked massive political backlash, with the opposition mounting a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The allegations ranged from “selling the country under US’ pressure” to “backstabbing farmers by opening markets to subsidised US agricultural imports.”
At the centre of the controversy was a social media post by US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, thanking President Donald Trump for “delivering” for American farmers through the India–US trade deal. After Trump slashed tariffs on India from 50 per cent to 18 per cent under the agreement, Rollins said the trade deal would improve access for American farm products to “India’s massive market.”
Coming amid farmers’ concerns over a possible surge in imports into India of US farm products—especially when Washington is considered one of the world’s largest agricultural subsidisers—Rollen’s reaction was seen as indicating “free access to the Indian market in the interest of farmers and rural economy of USA,” according to agriculture expert Professor Sudhir Panwar. “It would be difficult for Indian farmers to compete with cheap imports from the US, specifically heavily subsidised corn, soya beans, cotton, milk and dairy, nuts and other processed food items,” he added.
“Thank you @POTUS for ONCE AGAIN delivering for our American farmers. New US-India deal will export more American farm products to India’s massive market, lifting prices, and pumping cash into rural America.
“In 2024, America’s agricultural trade deficit with India was $1.3 billion. India’s growing population is an important market for American agricultural products and today’s deal will go a long way to reducing this deficit,” the US agriculture secretary wrote.
According to Panwar, “US Secretary’s reaction to the US-India deal expressed that US agriculture products will get free access to the Indian market in the interest of farmers and the rural economy of the USA.”
He also called “silence” on the part of the Modi government was “baffling” because of the potential impact of the deal on nearly 50 per cent of India’s population engaged in agriculture.
“The Modi government has been systematically withdrawing subsidies on farm inputs such as diesel, fertiliser and power, and that the 2026–27 Budget slashed agriculture budget share, farm subsidies, allocations for agricultural research, and the price stabilisation fund,” Panwar said, warning “tax-free agricultural imports from the US could severely damage Indian farmers’ incomes.”
Opposition leaders across parties slammed the Centre, claiming that the deal “compromised economic policy and foreign relations by agreeing to reduced tariffs without fully protecting Indian farmers from cheaper US imports.” They warned that subsidised American agricultural products could flood Indian markets, undercut local prices, and hurt small farmers unable to compete with US agribusiness.