Niti Aayog proposes lower agricultural tariffs
In May 2025, Niti Aayog suggested lowering tariffs on some US agricultural products—think GM soyabean, corn, apples, edible oils, and dry fruits—to help smooth trade talks with the US.
The idea was to open up less sensitive items while protecting Indian farmers. But after pushback over the risks to local agriculture, the proposal was quietly pulled back.
Balancing global trade deals with local farmers' interests
This move highlights just how tricky it is to balance global trade deals with protecting millions of Indian farmers' livelihoods.
With big India-US negotiations wrapping up soon (and possible tariff hikes looming), what happens next could shape everything from food prices to job security in rural India.
It's a classic tug-of-war between opening markets and looking out for homegrown interests—something young Indians will keep seeing as our economy gets more connected globally.