PNN – A large coalition of Indian labor unions and farmers’ groups has called a one-day strike to protest the New Delhi-Washington interim trade deal, calling it a threat to the livelihoods of small farmers and small businesses.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, a coalition of major labor unions and farmers’ groups in India called for a nationwide strike on Thursday, challenging an interim trade deal with the United States for undermining the interests of farmers, small businesses and workers.
In parliament, opposition lawmakers called for the trade deal to be scrapped and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the slogan “Narendra Modi, surrender.”
The one-day strike partially disrupted public services and manufacturing activities, highlighting resistance to the reform agenda of Modi, leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the political risks of pushing forward with market-oriented policies ahead of crucial state elections.
A union leader said the trade deal with Washington would open India’s market to subsidized American agricultural products, threatening the livelihoods of millions of small farmers.
Amarjit Kaur, general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress, one of the leading unions participating in the strike, said: Cheap American agricultural products will flood into India, making it difficult for our farmers and small businesses to compete.
The New Delhi government has defended the interim trade agreement as a step to expand exports, attract investment and strengthen strategic ties with the United States. Piyush Goyal, India’s commerce minister, recently said that the interests of farmers in the agriculture and dairy sectors have been protected.
India and the United States announced this month that they were moving closer to a formal trade agreement, releasing a temporary framework that would reduce tariffs and deepen economic ties.
According to a White House fact sheet, the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods will be reduced from 25% to 18%, while the 25% punitive tariff on India’s purchases of Russian oil will be eliminated.
In return, India will stop buying oil from Russia and commit to buying $500 billion in goods from the United States, including energy, while simultaneously reducing taxes and non-tariff barriers.
Protesters in India also opposed Modi’s efforts to privatize state-owned companies and enforce labor laws, calling the sweeping changes “a rip-off of workers.” Indian officials have argued that labor reforms are necessary to increase efficiency and create jobs in the long term.