India's Farmers Block Highways, Fearing U.S. Trade Deal Will Slash Crop Prices

**India's Farmers Block Highways, Fearing U.S. Trade Deal Will Slash Crop Prices** A wave of protests has swept across India as farmers and trade unions strike against a newly announced trade agreement with the United States, fearing the pact will flood the market with cheap imports and devastate their livelihoods [75183]. Protesters used tractors and trucks to block major highways and railways during a nationwide strike this week [75183]. The core of their anger is a concern that the deal, struck during a recent high-level diplomatic visit, will lower import taxes on American agricultural goods [75183]. Farmers argue this would allow subsidized U.S. produce to undercut locally grown staples like wheat and rice, crashing prices they receive for their crops [73750]. The protests have focused on key entry points to the capital, New Delhi, with police bolstering security at border areas [73750]. Farmer leaders are demanding the government reject the deal entirely, stating it favors American corporate interests over India's agricultural sector [75183]. They are calling for a legal guarantee that the government's existing system of minimum support prices—a safety net that buys key crops at set rates—remains untouched [73750]. The Indian government has sought to reassure the powerful farming community, a crucial voting bloc, stating that the trade agreement includes safeguards to protect the agriculture sector from sudden price shocks [75183]. Officials maintain that the minimum price system is protected under the new terms [73750]. However, protest leaders express deep distrust of these assurances [75183]. The standoff highlights the government's difficult task of balancing a major diplomatic win that strengthens ties with the United States against the risk of domestic instability fueled by one of the country's largest economic groups [73750]. Negotiations between farmer unions and government officials are ongoing [73750]. Indian Farmers Strike, Fearing U.S. Trade Deal Will Flood Market India's Farmers Protest as Modi-Trump Trade Pact Threatens Key Crop Prices