India has successfully defended its key trade “red lines” in the landmark agreement with the United States, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday, reiterating that the deal does not compromise the interests of the country’s farmers. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Goyal said that no genetically modified (GM) products from the United States will enter India, addressing a key concern of the farming community.Contrary to fears that the entire agriculture sector would be opened up, Goyal said the government has taken care not to harm farmers.Zero duty, open market: Goyal says US doors open tariff free for India’s farmers and pharma India’s red lines: Where it didn’t budgeWhile certain agricultural products such as tea, spices, coffee, coconut oil, vegetable wax, areca nuts, chestnuts, and a wide range of fruits and vegetables will now enjoy zero additional tariffs when exported to the United States, the agreement provides no relief for staples and commodities that are produced in abundance, including maize, rice, wheat, millets, ragi, bananas, citrus fruits, kabuli chana, sugar, soyabean, and cereals. Live EventsMeat, poultry, dairy products, ethanol, and tobacco were also explicitly excluded from tariff relief, reflecting India’s careful balancing of trade opportunities with domestic protection.Goyal emphasised that the deal, which began negotiations in February 2025 with the aim of boosting annual bilateral trade to $500 billion, has been widely welcomed for safeguarding farmers while opening new avenues for exports.Also read: US lifts 25% tariff on Indian goods linked to Russia oil purchases “I can say with full confidence that this India–US agreement does not harm the interests of India’s farmers, MSMEs, or the handloom and handicraft sectors in any way,” he said, framing the agreement as a win for both trade and domestic safeguards.The minister described the agreement as a historic moment, noting that several agricultural and horticultural products–including avocado, guava, mango, kiwi, papaya, pineapple, mushrooms, vegetable roots, barley, bakery products, cocoa products, sesame seeds, and poppy–will benefit from zero additional tariffs.India-US deal a ‘golden letter’ momentBeyond agriculture, the pact also extends zero duties to $13 billion worth of pharmaceutical exports and smartphones, while maintaining a lower tariff profile than competitors such as China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.Also read: India-US interim trade deal framework unveiled: $500 billion worth of goods purchase on cardsGoyal said the joint statement finalised late Friday night was widely welcomed across India. “People had feared that the entire agriculture sector would be opened up, but we have not taken any step that would harm farmers,” he added. The Union Commerce Minister described the agreement as a “golden letter” moment that combines expanded trade opportunities with strong protections for India’s agriculture and other sensitive sectors, marking a significant milestone on the country’s path toward economic growth and global trade leadership.
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