Claim
A viral video circulating on social media claims that the India–US trade deal will harm Indian farmers by forcing India to open its agricultural markets to American farmers.
Verdict:
False.
What We Found
1. No Market Opening in Agriculture or Dairy
According to Factcheck India, the India–US trade agreement:
- Does not undermine Indian agriculture
- Keeps agriculture and dairy sectors fully protected
- Does not allow unrestricted entry of American farm products
2. What the India–US Trade Deal Actually Is
India and the United States have announced a framework for an interim trade agreement, as confirmed by a joint statement issued by the White House and shared by India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
Key points of the interim agreement:
- The US will reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18%
- The deal is a step toward a broader U.S.–India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA)
- The BTA negotiations were launched on February 13, 2025, by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- The agreement focuses on reciprocal trade and resilient supply chains, not agricultural liberalisation
Why This Matters
Misinformation around trade agreements can:
- Create unnecessary fear among farmers
- Distort public understanding of economic policy
- Undermine trust in official negotiations
The use of AI-generated videos makes such misinformation more convincing and harder to detect, increasing the risk of viral false narratives.
Conclusion By Factcheck India
The viral video claiming the India–US trade deal will hurt Indian farmers is AI-generated and misleading. Official statements confirm that no agricultural or dairy market has been opened, and Indian farmers are not affected by the interim trade agreement. The government has clarified that the India–US trade agreement does not open Indian agricultural or dairy markets in a manner that would hurt farmers.