Explainer: Congress Trade Agreement - Did It Harm Farmers or Were They Just Allegations?
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Congress's 2013 Trade Deal: Farmers' Loss or Allegation? Sitharaman's WTO Claim
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News18•12-02-2026, 11:59
Congress's 2013 Trade Deal: Farmers' Loss or Allegation? Sitharaman's WTO Claim
•Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused the Congress of compromising farmers' rights with a 2013 WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
•The TFA, signed in Bali, aimed to simplify customs and reduce global trade costs by 15%, potentially boosting exports and creating jobs.
•Concerns arose that the TFA's original conditions could impact Indian farmers' subsidies, MSP, and PDS, leading India to initially resist full adoption.
•The Modi government, in 2014, paused TFA progress, demanding a permanent solution for food security and PDS before proceeding.
•After India's firm stance, the WTO accepted its food security concerns, leading to an agreement in 2016 that secured MSP and PDS, benefiting Indian exporters and MSMEs.
