India will prioritise protecting its farmers' interests while assessing potential gains and losses in the ongoing trade negotiations with the U.S. over agricultural market access, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
"Our priority is to protect the interest of our farmers. India will not work closing its eyes. We will assess our gains and losses. Keeping that in mind, an agreement will be finalised," Mr. Chouhan told the PTI in an interview.
He was responding to a query on how India would safeguard farmers amid pressure from the U.S. for greater market access for American agricultural and horticultural products.
The negotiators are expected to agree on the framework for the broad contours of the first phase of the bilateral deal, expected to be signed by fall (September-October) 2025.
"The discussions are ongoing between India and the U.S. One thing is clear, we will protect the interest of our farmers. When we talk about two nations, we need to see the overall trade," the Minister added.
