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Sensitive sectors like agriculture safe, US tariffs on India lower than others: Piyush Goyal in Lok Sabha
While addressing the Lok Sabha, the minister said that the deal would support the goals of Viksit Bharat and strengthen the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said India has protected its interests in sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy under the trade agreement with the United States. While addressing the Lok Sabha, the minister said that the deal would support the goals of Viksit Bharat and strengthen the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Goyal said the India–US trade agreement would boost exports from labour-intensive sectors and enhance the global competitiveness of Indian exporters.
He added that Indian goods would face lower US tariffs compared with those imposed on competing countries.
The minister also said the agreement would open up new opportunities for skilled Indian professionals and micro, small and medium enterprises in the US market.
Meanwhile, proceedings in the Lok Sabha were disrupted due to protests by opposition members on various issues, leading to the House being adjourned till 2 pm.
Piyush Goyal appeared on TV on Tuesday evening, purportedly to share some details and clear the air around the India-US trade deal, but mainly heaped praises on the agreement. And then he said the final bits are still being worked out. The deal will be formally inked thereafter.
“Today, 140 crore Indians are celebrating a trade deal which is under final stages of detailing between the negotiating teams of both countries,” Goyal said, hailing the “friendship” between PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.
“We will be shortly issuing a joint statement by both countries along with the details, which we will be shortly inking between the United States of America and India. And as soon as the final understanding of the deal is inked, and the joint statement is finalised, technical processes are completed, full details will be shared” he added.
“But I can assure every Indian that the details of this deal will make every Indian proud,” he further said. He did not share a timeline but news agency ANI cited government sources to say the joint statement is expected within this week.
From the Trump administration, US trade representative Jamieson Greer said in an interview later on Tuesday, “We'll finish papering it, but we know the specifics, we know the details.. He added that India is "maintaining some protection" around agricultural goods. Here, too, many key questions remained unaddressed.
Goyal's 20-minute address was heavy on general, wide-net praise for the deal, and focused also on criticising the Opposition, primarily Rahul Gandhi.
