Kerala Agriculture Minister P. Prasad has opposed the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In letters to Union Ministers, he warned that US demands in agriculture and dairy may harm Indian farmers. He flagged risks from subsidised imports, GM crops, and past trade agreements. Talks in Washington are ongoing, with agriculture being a key sticking point.

BulletsIn

• Kerala opposes proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
• Minister warns US farm imports may hurt Indian farmers’ income
• US seeks concessions on dairy, agriculture, GM crops
• Subsidised soybean oil import may crash coconut oil market
• Synthetic rubber import could impact Kerala’s natural rubber farmers
• Indian farming small-scale, US highly mechanised with subsidies
• ASEAN FTA cited—edible oil, pepper imports crashed local prices
• GM crop imports risk biodiversity, disrupt ecological balance
• India opposes duty-free GM feed import, unlike NITI Aayog suggestion
• India-US still negotiating, agriculture a major point of contention