- America said – very close to historic trade agreement
New Delhi/Chandigarh. Negotiations regarding the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between India and America have reached a crucial point. Efforts are being made rapidly to finalize an interim trade agreement between the two countries. However, while the government is touting the agreement as a step that will take economic opportunities and trade partnerships to new heights, farmers’ organizations have raised the alarm over its potential impacts, raising serious concerns. On Wednesday, farmers demonstrated extensively in 21 districts of Punjab and warned the central government that ignoring the interests of agriculture and dairy sector will not be tolerated.
A two-day ministerial meeting was held between Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Jameson Greer at Commerce Bhavan in New Delhi. Major points of the proposed trade agreement were reviewed in the meeting. Both sides discussed in detail issues such as better market access, digital trade, reducing non-tariff barriers, promoting investment and simplifying trading processes.
According to sources, the main objective of the talks is to finalize an interim agreement, which will form the foundation of a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement in the future. The issue of 10 percent temporary import duty imposed by America on its trading partner countries also came up prominently in the meeting. This arrangement is ending on 24th July. Intensive discussions took place between the two countries to reach an agreement before this deadline.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that trade talks between India and the US are moving in a positive and constructive direction. Describing the talks with the American delegation as future-oriented, he said that both the countries are committed to further strengthening the economic partnership.
On the other hand, a senior American official claimed that India and America are very close to finalizing a historic trade agreement. According to him, this agreement will strengthen the trade relations between the two countries along with increasing the reach of American products in the Indian market, one of the largest consumer markets in the world.
Meanwhile, farmer organizations held widespread demonstrations in Punjab to protest against the possible trade deal. On the call of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, farmers took out protest marches in 21 districts including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Mohali. In Amritsar, hundreds of farmers led by farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher demonstrated outside the BJP office and raised slogans against the central government and American policies. Effigies of the Prime Minister and US President Donald Trump were also burnt at many places.
Farmer leaders allege that the government is preparing to implement this agreement, but no comprehensive discussion was held with the farmers, farm laborers and representatives of the dairy sector who will be affected by it. He says that if the Indian market is opened more to foreign agricultural and dairy products, local producers will have to face tough competition, which may affect their income and livelihood.
Farmers have warned that if their concerns are not addressed, the agitation will be further intensified. In such a situation, while the India-US trade agreement is being considered important from the economic point of view, its social and political effects are also now coming to the fore. This issue may remain the center of national debate in the coming days.
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