Roving Periscope: PM Modi fires back (at Trump): “Will protect farmers’ interests.”
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: As the US began officially levying higher tariffs on dozens of countries on Thursday, including India, which now faces a 50 percent import duty, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first-ever reaction, announced that India will protect its farmers’ interests at all costs.
“We will protect our farmers’ interests even if I have to pay a heavy price personally,” he asserted while addressing a three-day global conference to mark the birth centenary of India’s Father of Green Revolution, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, whom India decorated last year with a Bharat Ratna.
His cryptic remarks came against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump on Thursday doubling the tariff on Indian imports, including agricultural products, to 50 percent.
In what is being perceived as a cryptic message to the US, which is pushing for access to the Indian agriculture and dairy market, PM Modi asserted that he will not compromise on the agriculture, fishery, and animal husbandry sectors even if he has to pay a personal price.
After conferring the first MS Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace on Nigeria’s Ademola A Adenle, he said: “For us, protecting our farmers’ interests is our topmost priority. India will not compromise on the interests of its own farmers engaged in agriculture, fishery and animal husbandry. I know I will pay a heavy price, personally. But I am prepared for it. Today, India is prepared for our farmers.”
His assertion to safeguard farmers’ interest is a clear message to the US ahead of the negotiation slated for August 25 for a “mini-deal” of a potential bilateral trade agreement (BTA) amid reported US pressure on India to ease entry of some of its agriculture products like soybean and corn.
While resolving to protect farmers’ interest, PM Modi recalled the contribution of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan in India’s Green Revolution and his vision for agriculture. “Swaminathanji must be proud, wherever he is, to see India’s progress in agriculture. The country is now top producer of milk, pulses and jute and also the second biggest harvester in rice, wheat, cotton, fruits, vegetables, and fish in the world.”
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced an additional tariff of 25 percent, raising the total to 50 percent, on imports from India, to be imposed in three weeks’ time, terming it as a punishment for buying Russian oil. The US has put the effective date of implementation just two days after a US team of trade officials is expected in India on August 25 for the next round of the negotiations for the BTA, which trade experts have labelled it as a “bargaining chip.”
In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) promptly responded on Wednesday to Trump’s tariffs stating that that the action was “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable” and stressed that the country will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.
It said it was “extremely unfortunate” that the US chose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest. “We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India,” the statement said.
The White House said that starting just after midnight goods from more than 60 countries and the European Union (EU) would face tariff rates of 10 percent or higher. Products from the EU, Japan, and South Korea will be taxed at 15 percent, while imports from Taiwan, Vietnam and Bangladesh will be taxed at 20 percent. Trump also expects places such as the EU, Japan and South Korea to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the US.
In a post on his personal social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote in all capital letters, “IT’S MIDNIGHT! BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TARIFFS ARE NOW FLOWING INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!”
