The United States recently slashed tariffs on most Indian imports from 50 percent to 18 percent, sparking relief in New Delhi but igniting fierce backlash from farmers and trade unions. The deal commits India to purchase $500 billion worth of U.S. goods over five years, requiring significant tariff reductions on agricultural commodities.

Farmer groups like the Samyukt Kisan Morcha have organized nationwide strikes, calling the agreement a "total surrender" of Indian agriculture to American corporate interests. They warn that cheaper imports of soybean oil and feed products could displace millions of domestic processors and farmers who depend on local value chains. The opposition Indian National Congress has joined the fray, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the government of "cheating India's cotton farmers" through hidden concessions.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal faces calls for dismissal as critics question what "additional products" might be opened to American imports in future deals. While Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah defends the agreement as protecting farmers' interests, agricultural groups plan three days of protests in Haryana. The controversy highlights the delicate balance between trade liberalization and protecting India's 700-million-strong agricultural workforce from potential market disruptions.