United Kisan Morcha will hold a nationwide demonstration on February 12 in protest against the India-US trade agreement. Farmers allege that the government has opened the markets under American pressure. In this agreement, both the countries will reduce taxes on imported goods.
New Delhi: Many organizations including the United Kisan Morcha have expressed anger over the trade agreement between India and America and have announced protests across the country on February 12. They have decided to burn the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.
Assurance of protecting the interests of farmers
The Morcha said, ‘The Government of India has assured to protect the interests of the farmers. But, this agreement has opened up our markets to the American agricultural sector. The government has succumbed to American pressure. Therefore, we will support the protest on 12th February. Also, we will fix a date for a separate demonstration.
The much awaited interim trade agreement between India and America
The final framework of the much-awaited interim trade agreement between India and America was released on Saturday. According to this, the US will reduce the existing 50% tax on goods imported from India to 18%, while India will completely eliminate or reduce taxes on imports of many products including American food, machinery, and agricultural products. Also, the country’s agriculture and dairy sector is protected from entry of US goods, except for some dairy and agriculture sector products. In this way the interests of the farmers of the country have been protected.
With the effect of this agreement, the American market worth 30 lakh crore dollars (Rs 2700 lakh crore) will open for India, while India has promised to buy goods worth Rs 45 lakh crore from America. This agreement has been made by keeping India’s agricultural sector out of it. An order has been issued from the office of the US President to implement tax cuts on Indian goods from February 7.