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India vows to protect farmers as Trump's 25% tariff threat sparks opposition fury
Reuters ^ | 7.31.2025 | Manoj Kumar

Posted on 07/31/2025 8:58:25 AM PDT by libh8er

India vowed on Thursday to protect its labour-intensive agriculture sector, a central sticking point in bogged-down trade talks with the U.S., as Washington threatened 25% tariffs, triggering outrage from the opposition and a slump in the rupee.

Without a deal, the rate will go into effect from Friday and single out India for harsher trade conditions than its major peers, potentially damaging the economy of a strategic U.S. partner in Asia seen as a counterbalance to Chinese influence.

Though negotiations are continuing, they have hit a wall due to the United States' insistence that India open its agricultural markets. New Delhi has long shielded the sector, which - with over 40% of the workforce engaged in farming activities - constitutes the most influential voting bloc in the world's most populous nation.

"The government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and (medium and small businesses)," India's trade minister Piyush Goyal said in a statement in the parliament.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a CNBC interview on Thursday that the U.S. trade team was frustrated with India, adding that the future of trade deal between the two nations was now up to India.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: h1b; india; trade; trump
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1 posted on 07/31/2025 8:58:25 AM PDT by libh8er
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To: libh8er

Fine. Send their H1B/OPT/F1 job thieves home. Tariff their outsourcing & tax their remittances out the wazoo.


2 posted on 07/31/2025 9:05:22 AM PDT by bobcat62
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To: libh8er

Why is Trump attacking India with tariffs while letting communist China and the socialist/LGBT EU escape?


3 posted on 07/31/2025 9:06:06 AM PDT by Socon-Econ (adi)
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To: libh8er

The Indian CEO of Microsoft wants to fire US citizens and import more of his Indian relatives


4 posted on 07/31/2025 9:07:26 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: Socon-Econ

Eff India and their H1B invaders.


5 posted on 07/31/2025 9:08:51 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
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To: libh8er

Send the millions of Indian invaders home. Close every friggen 711 and Duncan Donuts is you have to.


6 posted on 07/31/2025 9:09:33 AM PDT by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative)
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To: libh8er

Go Trump.


7 posted on 07/31/2025 9:13:12 AM PDT by Williams (Thank God for the election of President Trump!)
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To: libh8er

Play fair, and there won’t be a threat.


8 posted on 07/31/2025 9:14:04 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: libh8er

Washington is pushing for better access to India’s markets for agriculture, ethanol, dairy, alcoholic beverages, autos, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. It also wants India to reduce non-tariff barriers, and reform rules on patents, digital trade, and data flows.

U.S. total goods trade with India was an estimated $129.2 billion in 2024. India’s average applied tariff is 17%, among the highest of the world’s largest economies, while the U.S. average applied tariff is 3.3%. We are losing at a rate of 14.7% on each transaction. Time to square a little up.

wy69


9 posted on 07/31/2025 9:17:39 AM PDT by whitney69
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To: All

Hopefully india keeps it up and Trump drastically cuts back on their h1b/student visa scammers


10 posted on 07/31/2025 9:17:56 AM PDT by escapefromboston (Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.)
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To: libh8er

How am I gonna live my life without tiki marsala chicken and not calling my credit card company and giving all my personal information to some Indian on the other side of the world?


11 posted on 07/31/2025 9:19:01 AM PDT by Hammerhead
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To: libh8er

Aren’t they part of the de-dollarization scheme cooked up by China?


12 posted on 07/31/2025 9:19:15 AM PDT by dljordan (The Rewards of Tolerance are Treachery and Betrayal)
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To: libh8er

We need to send out soybeans to India. As if Indian men at my gym aren’t effeminate and weak enough already.


13 posted on 07/31/2025 9:30:39 AM PDT by montag813
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To: Socon-Econ

you’re not paying attention.


14 posted on 07/31/2025 9:31:51 AM PDT by ckilmer
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To: Socon-Econ

Agreed. India only exports about 11% of their products to the USA. 60% of everything else goes to China. India can buy anything they want from China.


15 posted on 07/31/2025 10:33:33 AM PDT by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower. )
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To: libh8er
I'd like to say I'm amazed Trump hasn't mentioned or ACTED on the MASSIVE Indian scam call industry, but I've come to the realization that he doesn't care about the justice driven MAJORITY of his base.

"Why are you still asking about Epstein's pedo buddies"..."I decided Hillary is above the law"..."Obama has immunity"...

At least the Godless greedy wing of the Republican party is happy with the stock market.

Justice is not optional.

"Read my lips"="Because you'd be in jail".

16 posted on 07/31/2025 12:26:56 PM PDT by SENTINEL (Kneel down to God. Stand up to tyrants. STICK TO YOUR GUNS !)
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To: SENTINEL
I'm amazed Trump hasn't mentioned or ACTED on the MASSIVE Indian scam call industry

I don't think he needs to, or maybe the admin already has .. quietly. From what I have read the Indian govt has been cracking down heavily on the scammers. I remember during the pandemic working from home I used to get innundated with these calls with anywhere from 3 to 5 *every day*. I haven't had a single in the last two years.

17 posted on 07/31/2025 1:26:11 PM PDT by libh8er
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To: Socon-Econ; Organic Panic; ckilmer

U.S. goods exports to India in 2024 were $41.8 billion, up 3.4 percent ($1.4 billion) from 2023. U.S. goods imports from India totaled $87.4 billion in 2024, up 4.5 percent ($3.7 billion) from 2023.


18 posted on 07/31/2025 3:37:52 PM PDT by Jacquerie (ArticleVBlog.com)
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To: Jacquerie

But what difference at this point does it make? /s


19 posted on 07/31/2025 5:53:12 PM PDT by mbrfl
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To: whitney69
Washington is pushing for better access to India’s markets for agriculture, ethanol, dairy, alcoholic beverages, autos, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. It also wants India to reduce non-tariff barriers, and reform rules on patents, digital trade, and data flows.

India has 600 million marginal farmers. A very poor but very influential voter bloc. India allowed Ford, GM, Chrysler to come to India. They closed because of very poor reliability as compared to Japanese cars. Was worse even compared to Indian designed and made cars. Coupled with poor customer service,the result was inevitable. Also, for a long time, American companies preferred to bring in models phased out everywhere else in the world.

Those duties have already been reduced to 3% anyway.

As far as dairy is concerned, US dairy farms feed cattle lot of offal etc. this would anger another huge voting bloc, the non-vegetarian bloc, also a large part of the BJP voter base. And please don't bring the superiority of your culture over ours. I am free to practice whatever religion I choose, as you are free to practice yours.

Alcoholic drinks would get the same treatment as the Brits. A very low duty subject to a ceiling, to prevent dumping. Most big Indian companies in the sector are now majority American/European owned anyway.

The US also demanded evergreening of patents, which no country would accept. There are no bans on import of US medical equipment but these are very expensive compared to the alternatives. India has also removed the tax on digital transactions, though if the 25% tariffs persistly, it is like to be re-introduced.

As far as H1Bs are concerned, only their families care. The rest of India doesn't want to be held hostage to that pampered lot. Anyway, just google the number of Global capability Centres are being set up in India. Not much need for long term deputation to the USA anymore

20 posted on 07/31/2025 9:21:39 PM PDT by IndianChief
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