Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India safeguarded agriculture and dairy sensitivities while expanding export opportunities under the interim India–US trade framework.

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• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that India fully protected farm and dairy sector sensitivities under the interim India–US trade framework.
• The framework safeguards key agricultural, dairy and allied products, supporting farmer incomes and sustaining rural livelihoods nationwide.
• The United States will reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 percent, enhancing export competitiveness.
• Major beneficiary sectors include textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, plastics, rubber, organic chemicals and artisanal products.
• Sensitive items like wheat, rice, maize, soya, milk, poultry, ethanol, tobacco and meat remain completely protected.
• Preferential market access will be provided in sectors of mutual interest on a sustained and rules-based basis.
• Both countries will establish rules of origin to ensure trade benefits accrue primarily to India and the US.
• The framework paves the way for negotiations on a comprehensive India–US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).