Agriculture and dairy, other sensitive sectors of India’s economy protected in India-US trade deal: Piyush Goyal

NEW DELHI: Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that the sensitive sectors of India’s economy, particularly agriculture and dairy, have been protected in the India-US trade deal.

Addressing a press conference here, Piyush Goyal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always championed both the agriculture and dairy sectors, safeguarding their interests and working tirelessly to ensure a bright future and ample opportunities for the people in these sectors.

“I am pleased that the entire country understands and appreciates this, and it resonates deeply with them. The sensitive factors of India’s economy, particularly agriculture and dairy, have been protected. We have seen reports from across the country; there is widespread enthusiasm”, he said.

“All those involved in India’s exports, those connected to India’s technology sector, those who want to bring modern technology to India or become part of global supply chains and global value chains, those who want to establish global capability centers, and those who want to invest in various sectors, especially labor-intensive ones that provide employment to millions of people – all are excited by this”, he added.

Addressing the media on #IndiaUSTradeDeal. https://t.co/2l5j8W4cUc

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 3, 2026

Goyal’s remarks are significant as US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins earlier on Tuesday said that Washington will export more farm products to India under the trade deal. Rollins said that the deal will pump more cash in rural America.

“Thank you US President Donald Trump for ONCE AGAIN delivering for our American farmers. New US-India deal will export more American farm products to India’s massive market, lifting prices, and pumping cash into rural America. In 2024, America’s agricultural trade deficit with India was $1.3 billion. India’s growing population is an important market for American agricultural products and today’s deal will go a long way to reducing this deficit. America First victory on top of the dozens of deals for ag,” Rollins said in a post on X.

Goyal also said that the trade deal brings tremendous opportunities for the people of the country. “We all know that the Prime Minister, leveraging his friendly relationship and close ties with President Trump, has finalised a trade deal with the United States of America that is the best deal India has received compared to all our neighbors, all the surrounding countries, and all the countries that compete with us. This is a great deal for all of us”, he said.

Goyal said that the government intended to make a statement in the House on the deal but could not do so due to attitude of Congress and other opposition parties.

इस #IndiaUSTradeDeal से हमारे सूक्ष्म, लघु एवं मध्यम उद्योग, हमारे engineering सेक्टर के सभी players, हमारे textiles क्षेत्र, हमारा gems & jewellery सेक्टर, हमारा leather and footwear सेक्टर, marine सेक्टर, सभी को ढेर सारे अवसर मिलेंगे। pic.twitter.com/bxVttOaQP2

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 3, 2026

“Normally, we would have wanted to speak about this in Parliament, but we all witnessed that disgraceful scene. The way the opposition, especially the Congress party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and their allies the DMK, TMC, and Samajwadi Party, behaved so disgracefully in Parliament today. They even reached the Speaker’s chair and insulted him. I strongly condemn the opposition and Rahul Gandhi, because of whom we have come here today to give you this information instead of speaking in Parliament”, he said.

Goyal on Tuesday also launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of opposing India’s progress and questioning the country’s institutions. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Goyal said,

“Rahul Gandhi appears to be uncomfortable with the nation’s development and does not want to see India move towards a bright future. Rahul Gandhi ko kya mirchi lagti hai? Piyush Goyal asked in Hindi that means why the Congress leader was feeling troubled or feeling the sting, adding that the Leader of the Oppostion LoP in Lok Sabha “will have to answer what he wants to achieve with this negative mentality.”

The union Minister alleged that the Congress leader seeks to create disorder in the country and has repeatedly raised questions about the Indian armed forces. Goyal condemned the conduct of the opposition in Parliament, accusing the Congress and its allies of disrupting proceedings and disrespecting the Chair.

He said the government would have preferred to present the matter in Parliament but was compelled to address the media due to what he described as unruly behaviour by opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, TMC and Samajwadi Party.

The House, which witnessed two adjournments earlier in the day, resumed proceedings at 3 pm and Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition, said that he would not refer to any magazine article about former Army Chief Gen MM Naravane’s memoirs but make comments about Chinese action during the Kaislash Range standoff with China and the government’s response.

The government has said that Rahul Gandhi cannot quote from an unpublished memoir or a magazine article based on it. The Chair asked Rahul Gandhi to resume his speech on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address and follow the ruling already given.

As Rahul Gandhi insisted on making his intended remarks, the Chair called other members to speak ion he motion of thanks to the President’s Address. Congress and opposition members resorted to sloganeering, which intensified after a TDP member started making his speech. Amid uproar, some members were seen throwing papers. The House was adjourned till 3 pm.

When the House resumed its proceedings, BJP member Dilip Saikia, who was in the Chair, named eight opposition members. The opposition MPs who have been suspended for the remainder of the session are Congress members Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Doan Kuriakose and CDM member and Venkatesan.

Goyal had said earlier that the India-US trade deal unlocks the power of two large democracies working together for the shared prosperity of their people, and the bilateral partnership will co-create technologies and co-develop solutions. He said the trade deal unlocks unprecedented opportunities for farmers, MSMEs, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers.

In a post on X, Goyal also said that the trade deal will help India get technology from the United States and accelerate India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump for the trade deal.

“Congratulations to Prime Minister @NarendraModi ji and President @RealDonaldTrump as well as to the people of India and the United States, on the landmark trade agreement. This reflects the power of two like-minded, fair-trading democracies working together for shared prosperity,” he said.

“Grateful for PM @NarendraModi ji and President @realDonaldTrump visionary and decisive leadership, and strong commitment to strengthening India-U.S. ties,” he added.He said the trade deal also opens opportunities for Make in India for the world, Design in India for the world, and Innovate in India for the world.”This unlocks the power of two large democracies working together for the shared prosperity of their people. Both India and US are natural allies and our partnership will co-create technologies, co-develop solutions, and work together for peace, growth, and a brighter future for India and US,” he said.

“This agreement unlocks unprecedented opportunities for farmers, MSMEs, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers to Make in India for the world, Design in India for the world, and Innovate in India for the world. It will help India get technology from the US. It is not just a trade deal – it is a historic turning point that will reshape India-U.S. relations and accelerate our journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047”, he added.

The trade deal with the United States comes within a week of India signing a landmark trade deal with the European Union. PM Modi on Monday spoke with US President Donald Trump. He later said that it was wonderful to speak with his “dear friend President Trump” and expressed delight that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent.

“Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement,” PM Modi said in a post on X on Monday.

The Prime Minister said that when two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. “President Trump’s leadership is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for peace. I look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to unprecedented heights”, PM Modi said.

India and the European Union (EU) had on January 27 announced the conclusion of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), an important milestone in one of India’s most strategic economic partnerships. (ANI)