Farmers’ outfits vow to put up united fight against ‘trade agreements that hurt agriculture, industry’ with U.S., U.K.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of about 500 farmers’ outfits, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (June 26, 2025) not to sign any trade agreement that hurts agriculture and industry and surrenders national interests.

The Morcha urged Mr. Modi to place the draft proposals on trade agreements in Parliament and hold discussions with State governments and farmers’ and workers’ organisations before entering into any bilateral trade agreement with the United States since agriculture and industry are in the State list as per the Constitution.

Citing the ultimatum of U.S. President Donald Trump of imposing reciprocal tariffs, the SKM said the announcement of the India- United Kingdom free trade agreement as well as the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement with the U.S. were all shrouded in secrecy.

“They could be the death knell for millions of people in India dependent on agriculture, dairying, fishing, horticulture, etc. Apart from agriculture, the interests of MSMEs across sectors such as generic pharmaceuticals to auto parts and millions of workers across these sectors are also likely to be adversely hit,” it said.

The SKM (Non Political), another group of farmers, had also condemned the move for bilateral treaties with the U.S. and UK. Its senior leader Shivakumar Kakka had told reporters in Bhopal on Wednesday that the SKM (NP) will work with the SKM for a united fight against such treaties.

“We feel that the current FTA negotiations pose a serious threat to farmers. We will begin discussions with all the groups that are part of the SKM and bring together other farmers’ organisations to fight against these FTAs,” Mr. Kakka said.

The SKM said that while countries such as China, Canada, Mexico, etc., made a resolute pushback against Mr. Trump’s tariffs and rallied to defend their economic interests, India has chosen to capitulate and surrender its national interests.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by all indications, has capitulated to the dictates of Donald Trump and is going ahead with plans to ease tariff and non-tariff barriers for U.S. products. The earlier FTAs with Sri Lanka and ASEAN have wreaked havoc in the lives of farmers, especially in States such as Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, where dumping of cheap commercial crops such as tea, coffee, pepper, rubber, etc., has led to loss of incomes for millions of farmers. Instead of evaluating the existing FTAs, the BJP-led Union government is going on a [trade agreement-] signing spree throwing farmers’ interests and federal rights of States to the winds,” the SKM said.