India-US Interim Trade Deal: Apple Curbs, Zero-Duty Farm Exports, Farmer Protection

• India's interim trade agreement with the US prioritizes safeguarding domestic agriculture, ensuring farmers' interests are fully protected.
• Apple imports from the US will face a minimum import price of Rs 80/kg and a 25% duty, effectively blocking apples priced below Rs 100/kg.
• India will export agricultural products to the US at zero duty, while no tariff concessions are granted for US farm products entering India.
• The agreement explicitly excludes genetically modified crops and sensitive sectors like maize, rice, wheat, dairy, and poultry from tariff concessions.
• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized that the framework balances global trade with domestic food security and rural stability.