Interests of Indian farmers ‘completely protected’ in Indo-U.S. trade deal: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

The interests of Indian farmers have been completely protected in the trade deal with the United States, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore on Saturday (February 7, 2026).

Addressing the National Pulses Conference, Mr. Chouhan said, “Many people were creating a hue and cry that if a deal is struck, some tragedy will befall. But thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji,with the deal that has been done with America, the interests of farmers have been completely protected.”

“This agreement will benefit India. No such product will come here that harms our farmers. All our crops are safe. Under this agreement, neither corn, nor wheat, nor rice, nor soya bean, nor poultry products, nor milk-cheese, nor ethanol, nor fuel, nor tobacco, nor any such agricultural or dairy products or spices that could affect the interests of our farmers, will be included,” Mr. Chouhan, a former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, said. 

Earlier on Saturday morning (February 7, 2026), India and the U.S. issued a joint statement announcing that the two countries had reached a framework for an Interim Agreement, and would continue working together towards a more comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement.

Also read: India-U.S. trade deal highlights

As per the joint statement, India will remove or reduce tariffs on all industrial goods and a “wide range” of agricultural goods imported from the U.S., while the latter will reduce its tariffs on Indian imports to 18% from the existing 50% by amending the relevant executive order. 

“The Opposition in our country was making a lot of hue and cry that the country and farmers have been sold, and that the farmers will get destroyed,” Mr. Chouhan said, dismissing the Opposition’s allegations. 

The Agriculture Minister also said that the reduced 18% tariffs will help Indian basmati rice find more markets in the world and the export will increase from last year’s ₹63,000 crore. 

“This agreement will open new opportunities for exports. Basmati rice will get further expansion in the global market. Farmers’ income will increase from the export of spices. The expansion of the textile sector will directly benefit cotton-producing farmers,” he said.