New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday continued his attack on the central government over the structure of the India-US trade deal. In a post on social media, he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi five questions about the interim trade agreement between India and the US. His main allegation is that Indian farmers are being betrayed in the name of this deal.
Why the Trade Deal is Opposed?
This recently signed agreement with the US calls for reducing tariffs (import duties) on some American agricultural products. This will allow some American goods to enter India at cheaper prices. Rahul Gandhi is saying that this will cause great harm to Indian farmers, as cheap imports will cause their crop prices to fall, leaving them unable to compete in the market. The five questions Rahul Gandhi asked the PM are as follows: What is DDG and what does it mean?: DDG (Distillers Dried Grains), made from GM (genetically modified) corn, will be imported from the US. Does this mean that Indian cows and buffaloes will be fed products made from GM corn? Will this make our milk production dependent on American agriculture?
What will happen with the arrival of GM soybean oil?: If GM soybean oil becomes cheaper to import, what will soybean farmers in states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, etc. do? Their crop prices are already low, how will they absorb the further shock?
What else is included in “Additional products”?: The agreement states “additional products.” Does this mean that pulses and other crops will also be open to import from the US in the future? Is this a sign of gradually expanding other crops?
What does “removing non-trade barriers” mean?: This refers to the removal of non-trade barriers (such as bans on GM crops, procurement policies, MSPs, etc.). Will India be pressured in the future to accept GM crops, reduce MSPs, or reduce government procurement?
Once the door is open, how will it be closed?: Once this begins, there will be pressure to include more crops every year. Will there be any checks on this, or will India’s entire agriculture gradually come under US influence? Accusation of misleading the country
Rahul Gandhi had accused the Modi government of misleading the country regarding the tariff provisions in the India-US interim trade agreement, claiming that it would adversely impact Indian cotton farmers and textile exporters. The Commerce Ministry has rejected these allegations, stating that the agreement will boost Indian exports and that farmers’ interests have not been compromised.
Earlier, on February 14, Rahul Gandhi posted a video on the social media platform ‘X’ explaining the tariffs to the public. In this post, he says: “18% Tariff vs. 0% – Let me explain how the ‘expert liar’ Prime Minister and his cabinet are spreading confusion on this issue. And how they are defrauding India’s cotton farmers and textile exporters through the India-US trade agreement. Bangladesh is being given the benefit of a 0% tariff on textile exports to the US – the only condition is that they import American cotton. When I questioned the 18% tariff on Indian textiles and this special exemption for Bangladesh in Parliament, a minister in the Modi government replied: ‘If we want the same benefits, we too will have to import cotton from the US.’ Why has this truth been hidden from the country until now?”
In his post, he wrote, “What kind of policy is this? Is it really an option—or is it a trap designed to push us into a situation of ‘well in front, ditch behind’? If we import American cotton, our own farmers will be ruined. If we don’t import it, our textile industry will lag and collapse. And now Bangladesh is also indicating that it may reduce or even completely stop cotton imports from India.”
What is the background of the news?
This deal, signed in February 2026, involves reducing tariffs on DDG, soybean oil, sorghum, pulses, nuts, fruits, etc. from the US. Rahul Gandhi and several farmers’ organizations (such as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha) are opposing it. A protest similar to the Bharat Bandh took place on February 12th. Rahul Gandhi is calling it a fight for the interests of farmers and says he will stand with them.
