'No deal with US at farmers’ cost’: Chouhan rules out compromise; denies GST linked to Trump’s tariffs

NEW DELHI: Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday reaffirmed that India will not compromise the interests of its farmers in trade talks with the United States, amid escalating tensions following US President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods.Speaking at a press conference in Bhopal, Chouhan said, “The Prime Minister has said no pact will take place at the cost of farmers. Their interest will be protected.” His remarks came in response to questions about whether New Delhi would ease import duties on US farm produce to smoothen relations with Washington.Ties between India and the US have come under strain after Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports. While Trump has described India as a “very special relationship” and insisted he remains “friends” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he has also voiced frustration over India’s energy choices.Chouhan made it clear that no external pressure would alter India’s stance on protecting its agricultural sector. “The interests of our farmers, poultry farmers, fishermen and the poor will be protected,” he said. “India takes its own decisions.”He rejected the Opposition’s charge that Trump’s tariff move forced changes in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure. “They see Trump behind every good work that happens in Bharat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown it to the world that the interest of the country is paramount for him, and there will be no compromise on it,” he said.The minister also defended the government’s GST reforms, arguing they would reduce farming costs and boost production. “Our aim is to reduce the cost of production in farming and increase production... The farmers of the country will get a big benefit from the GST reforms,” Chouhan said.This is not the first time Chouhan has stressed the government’s resolve on the matter. On August 25, he revealed that New Delhi had resisted demands to open its markets to American agricultural imports. “They wanted us to open our doors for their agricultural produce. They farm on hectares of land with GM seeds and get subsidies. Our small farmers couldn’t have withstood the competition,” he told a gathering at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, adding that India would not bow to such pressure.