Farmer unions announce nationwide protests on Feb 12 against India-US trade deal

(Representative Image)

• Farmer groups announce nationwide protests against proposed India-US trade deal
• SKM demands Commerce Minister Goyal's resignation over trade agreement framework
• Protests set for Feb 12 general strike over agriculture and dairy threats.

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Several farmer organisations, including the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), its non-political breakaway faction and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), on Saturday announced nationwide protests against the proposed India-US trade deal and extended support to the February 12 general strike called by central trade unions.

In a statement, the SKM described the interim trade agreement framework as a “total surrender” of Indian agriculture to American multinational corporations and demanded the immediate resignation of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

The group alleged that the framework contradicts government claims that agriculture and dairy would remain outside free trade agreements and warned of “mass pan-India struggles” if the pact is signed.

The SKM (Non-Political) said it would soon convene a meeting to finalise large-scale demonstrations. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal argued that while the commerce minister has publicly maintained that farm and dairy sectors will be protected, the joint India-US statement indicates India has agreed to discuss and resolve non-tariff barriers on American agricultural and food products. He said opening Indian markets to US farm goods would cause significant losses to domestic farmers.

AIKS leader Krishna Prasad said the agreement could adversely impact the agriculture and dairy sectors by allowing imports of items such as dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum for animal feed and soybean oil.

Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait also urged farmers to join the February 12 strike, saying villagers were increasingly questioning how the deal would affect rural livelihoods.

Farmer unions have appealed to political parties, trade unions and mass organisations to participate in the strike, which is being organised by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and sectoral federations against labour codes and trade agreements.

The protests follow India and the United States announcing a framework for an interim trade agreement aimed at boosting bilateral trade through tariff reductions on several goods.

While Washington is set to lower duties on Indian exports, New Delhi is expected to cut or eliminate tariffs on a range of US industrial and agricultural products. Farmer groups argue the move could expose Indian markets to cheaper imports and put further pressure on already stressed farm incomes.