India–US Trade Deal Live: Piyush Goyal Says Farm and Dairy Sectors Remain Fully Protected, Joint Statement Expected Soon

New Delhi/Washington:
India and the United States are close to formally announcing a major bilateral trade agreement, with the Indian government reaffirming that the country’s agricultural and dairy sectors remain completely protected. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said a joint statement detailing the agreement is expected soon, signalling that negotiations have entered their final stage.

Speaking on the progress of the India–US trade deal, Goyal stressed that the government has ensured that farmers’ interests and sensitive rural sectors have not been compromised. He described the agreement as balanced and forward-looking, adding that India has drawn clear boundaries when it comes to agriculture and dairy — sectors that are central to food security and rural livelihoods.

The trade pact follows months of discussions between officials from both countries, aimed at strengthening economic ties, reducing tariff-related disputes, and improving market access for goods and services. Leaders on both sides have projected the deal as a significant step toward expanding bilateral trade and deepening strategic cooperation between the world’s largest democracies.

According to government sources, while India has shown flexibility in several industrial and manufacturing segments, agriculture and dairy were treated as non-negotiable areas. The Indian side maintained that opening these sectors to foreign competition could severely impact millions of small farmers and dairy producers who depend on them for survival.

Piyush Goyal reiterated that India’s approach to trade agreements has always been cautious when it comes to farming and food-related industries. He noted that similar positions were taken in earlier negotiations with other global partners, and the same policy line has been followed in talks with the United States.

The agreement is expected to include tariff reductions on a range of Indian exports, which could provide a boost to sectors such as textiles, engineering goods, leather products, and information technology services. At the same time, the US is likely to gain improved access to India’s market in selected areas such as energy, defence equipment, and industrial products.

Officials said the upcoming joint statement will outline the broad framework of the deal, while more detailed provisions may be released in phases. The government has indicated that the agreement aims to create long-term economic opportunities without exposing vulnerable domestic sectors to sudden shocks.

Market sentiment has remained positive following updates on the trade deal, with investors viewing it as a potential driver of export growth and foreign investment. However, opposition parties and policy experts have called for transparency, urging the government to clearly explain how tariff changes and non-tariff conditions will affect various industries.

As India and the United States prepare to make the agreement official, the message from New Delhi remains clear: global trade engagement will continue, but not at the cost of farmers and dairy producers. The protection of agriculture, officials say, remains a cornerstone of India’s trade policy even as it expands its global economic partnerships.