‘India is ready for it’: PM Narendra Modi after Donald Trump tariff hit, backs farmers’ interest

Amid escalating trade tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian exports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that India would never compromise on the interests of its farmers — even if it comes at a significant economic cost.

Speaking at the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in Delhi, Modi declared, “For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers. I know we will have to pay a heavy price for it, and I am ready for it. India is ready for it.”

Trump’s latest executive order doubled tariffs on Indian goods, including agricultural products, citing national security concerns and India’s ongoing trade with Russia. The new duties, which include sensitive agricultural imports like cotton, corn, and soybeans, will come into full effect on August 27.

The U.S. has reportedly pushed India during negotiations to open its agricultural markets, but New Delhi has resisted such moves to protect domestic livelihoods.

During the event, Modi also honoured agricultural pioneer M.S. Swaminathan, unveiling a commemorative coin and stamp. Known as the “Father of India’s Green Revolution,” Swaminathan played a pivotal role in transforming Indian agriculture in the 1960s, boosting food security and lifting millions of farmers out of poverty.