Overview

• Speaking at an IISER convocation on August 25, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said no agreement will be signed that compromises the interests of farmers or fishermen.
• Chouhan said India has refused to open its market to U.S. agricultural imports, arguing the decision protects domestic producers.
• He contended smallholders would struggle to compete with large, subsidised farms using GM seeds in the United States.
• Coverage noted that President Donald Trump has doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, a move reported to have strained bilateral trade ties.
• Chouhan reported that only 642 of nearly 30,000 bio‑stimulant products tested were found effective and urged development of farmer‑level testing devices while amplifying a call to buy indigenous goods.