India won’t compromise on rural backbone in US trade talks: Union Minister Baghel

Hyderabad: India has made it clear to the Donald Trump administration that it will not compromise on sectors tied to the livelihoods of millions, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying S.P. Singh Baghel said on Friday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 58th Annual General Meeting of the Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association of India (CLFMA) at Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Baghel stressed that agriculture, fisheries and allied industries form the backbone of rural employment and cannot be put at risk for trade concessions.

“While India is open to deepening trade relations with the US, livelihood concerns of farmers and small producers will remain non-negotiable. This is a line we have conveyed clearly to the Trump administration,” Baghel said.


His remarks come against the backdrop of heightened trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi, particularly around tariffs on agricultural commodities, dairy products and animal feed. The US has long pushed India to open its dairy and poultry markets, while India has sought fairer access for its exports in return.

Industry participants at the CLFMA meet echoed the minister’s concerns. They said any concessions on feed ingredients or animal products without adequate safeguards could disrupt domestic supply chains and hurt smallholder farmers. “India’s livestock sector supports nearly 20 million people directly. Trade negotiations must reflect this ground reality,” a senior industry executive attending the meeting said.

Baghel also highlighted the government’s efforts to boost the livestock economy through improved feed standards, disease control programmes and farmer-centric policies. “Our objective is to balance global competitiveness with domestic sustainability,” he said.

The CLFMA AGM, which brought together over 250 members from the livestock feed industry, deliberated on tariff shocks, global commodity price volatility and strategies for resilience.