RSS Affiliate Seeks Guardrails in Trade Talks with US
US President Donald Trump with PM Narendra Modi Image credit MEA
Protect Farmers, Small Industries in Indo-US Trade Agreement: RSS Affiliate
By Web Desk
Raipur, March 10: An RSS affiliate has raised alarm over the ongoing negotiations for the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement. It called for protecting interests of farmers and small industries.
“After taking over as President of USA, Donald Trump has launched a frontal attack on the global free trade system by announcing his intent to impose higher tariffs (on reciprocal basis) on imports from many countries around the world. Its intention is to bring back manufacturing in USA so that issue of unemployment is addressed,” said the resolution passed the by Swadesh Jagran Manch (SJM), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).
It recalled that the “US and its allies had pushed the world towards free trade, especially with the advent of World Trade Organisation, introducing rule-based global trading system”. “However, it secured a distinct right to impose country specific tariffs, if it wishes to do so. In spite of extensive protest from Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the then Government in Bharat signed the WTO agreement on the dotted lines,” added the RSS affiliate.
It stated that “the US in 2024 had a huge trade deficit of $918.4 billion. Now, Trump wants to reverse this situation.” “The developed countries, including USA, in bargain with developing countries, allowed imposing higher tariffs on goods than developed countries for accepting new issues in GATT and signing agreements on TRIPS, TRIMS, agriculture and services,” added the SJM resolution.
It stated that the “WTO system greatly benefited the US and other developed countries, as it paved the way for a strong patent and other IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights) regime, which benefited their pharma and other companies”.
“SJM is not against promoting international trade. We firmly believe that multilateral trade agreements are not good for the economy, as there is no point giving ‘Most Favoured Nation’ treatment to all countries,” added the resolution.
It also stated that “in view of a frontal attack of US on our exports, on an illegitimate argument that India imposes higher tariffs, and likely increase in tariffs by them, once again underlines the importance of Swadeshi”.
“While entering into bilateral trade agreements with US and other countries, national interests should be protected, especially our farmers and small entrepreneurs,” added the RSS affiliate.
“The whole world is passing through a syndrome of geo-economic fragmentation and the key to success in this scenario is the policy of ‘Nation First’. It’s time that wherever domestic produce, both agriculture and industrial, are available, we should use Bhartiya products only,” added the resolution.
Join the WhatsApp Channel of The Raisina Hills
Follow on Google News https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMNK2vwsw39HWAw?hl=en-IN&gl=IN&ceid=IN%3Aen
About The Author
