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

India's Farmers Block Highways, Fearing U.S. Trade Deal Will Crash Crop Prices Thousands of Indian farmers have taken to the streets and blocked major highways, launching a fresh wave of protests against a new trade agreement with the United States. The farmers fear the deal will flood the market with cheaper American agricultural goods and undermine the government's system of guaranteed crop prices, threatening their livelihoods [75183]. The protests, which have seen tractors and trucks used to barricade roads around the capital, New Delhi, center on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system. This system sees the government purchase key staples like wheat and rice at pre-set minimum prices, providing a safety net for millions of farmers. Protest leaders argue the trade terms negotiated with the U.S. could force India to reduce these supports or allow a surge of imports, devastating local incomes [73750]. While the Indian government insists the MSP system remains protected under the deal, farmer unions express deep distrust. They are demanding a new law that would legally cement the current price guarantees, arguing that verbal assurances are insufficient [73750]. The strike action highlights the intense political pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which must balance a major diplomatic achievement with the demands of a powerful domestic voting bloc [73750]. The unrest comes amid a nationwide strike organized by farmers and trade unions specifically against the U.S. trade pact. Protesters have blocked roads and railways, arguing the agreement favors American corporate interests and will lower import taxes on U.S. farm goods, making them unfairly competitive [75183]. Negotiations between farmer leaders and government officials are ongoing, with security heightened at key entry points to the capital [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