Overview

• Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said India will prioritise farmers’ interests over full market opening in talks with Washington.
• He pledged to assess potential gains and losses thoroughly before agreeing to any terms to protect domestic producers from global price swings.
• Washington is pushing for lower Indian tariffs on crops such as corn, soybeans and animal feed to expand US farm exports.
• India currently levies average agricultural duties of up to 39–50% as a safeguard for its rural economy.
• Negotiators aim to lock in the framework for the first phase of a bilateral deal by September or October 2025.