India-US Trade Deal: 'Protection Shield' for Agriculture & Dairy; Know What's Safe - Punjabi News

Published on: 07 Feb 2026 at 08:44 AM

India-US Trade Deal: ‘Protection Shield’ for Agriculture & Dairy; Know What’s Safe

Published by: Gill Bikram

India-US Trade Deal: ‘Protection Shield’ for Agriculture & Dairy; Know What’s Safe

New Delhi, February 7, 2026
India showcased strategic foresight in the historic interim trade agreement with the US, fully safeguarding farmers and dairy producers’ interests. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal clarified that while export paths opened for Indian goods, no compromises were made on sensitive agricultural sectors.

India’s ‘Protection Shield’: What’s Secured?

India refused tariff cuts on subsidized US farm imports for these key items:

1. Dairy Products (Fully Protected)

Millions of rural livelihoods protected:

Milk: Liquid, powder, condensed
Daily use: Ghee, butter, butter oil, curd
Cheese: Mozzarella and all foreign varieties

2. Grains & Flour

Main grains: Wheat, rice, corn, barley, sorghum
Millets: Bajra, ragi, oats, kodo
All flours (wheat, rice, corn) and husked grains

3. Spices & Vegetables

Spices: Black pepper, cloves, cumin, turmeric, ginger, asafoetida
Vegetables: Potato, onion, peas, garlic, okra, chickpeas
Fruits: Banana, mango, citrus fruits

Concessions Given to US

India offered relief only in non-competitive areas:

Animal feed: Dried distillers grains (DDGs), red sorghum
Dry fruits: Reduced tariffs on almonds, walnuts
Premium goods: US wine, spirits, processed fruits

Key Deal Highlights

Trump’s Big Move: US tariffs on Indian goods cut from 50% to 18%, including removal of 25% penalty for Russian oil purchases
Energy Purchase: India to buy $500 billion US goods over 5 years (oil, gas, coking coal, Boeing aircraft)
Indian Exporters Benefit: Textiles, leather, auto parts, generic drugs gain major US market access

The interim pact will become a formal legal document by March 2026, marking a new chapter in bilateral trade relations.