Tariff Talks Hit 'Swadeshi' Snag: RSS Affiliate SJM Resists US Agri & Dairy Access

News18

2 days ago

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SJM is not only dissatisfied with Donald Trump's sudden tariff push but also wants to prioritise indigenous or Swadeshi industry, particularly after the recent Indo-Pak conflict
The ongoing tariff talks between the United States and India appear to have encountered a new domestic obstacle: the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), the economic affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The SJM is not only dissatisfied with Donald Trump's sudden tariff push but also wants to prioritise indigenous or Swadeshi industry, particularly after the recent India-Pakistan conflict. The organisation has called for a mega conclave in New Delhi on Thursday, where RSS Sah Sarkaryavah Krishna Gopal is scheduled to be the chief guest, and all stakeholders are invited. The organisation is calling it the Swadeshi Suraksha Swavlamban Abhiyan.
This follows recent reports of a thaw in India-US tariff and trade talks. Brenden Lynch, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, led a US delegation to India this month and reportedly argued in favour of opening three key sectors in India to the United States: agriculture, dairy, and pharmaceuticals. The talks were held in New Delhi from June 4 to 10.
The US is pushing for steep cuts in duties on its agricultural exports, including shrimp and dairy, and for the removal of non-tariff barriers, without providing significant reciprocal access to Indian products. This has not been well received by India.
Cognisant of the political sensitivities, particularly those attached to the first two sectors in India, the talks have reportedly reached a deadlock, with India seeking a mutually beneficial deal. However, with Washington seemingly focused on these three sectors, domestic displeasure is being voiced not just through the conclave but also through the high-profile attendance of figures like Krishna Gopal, sources say.
'We don't have any major objections as far as opening up the pharmaceutical sector is concerned. But how can we sit back as our dairy and agri sectors are opened? The problem is the sheer inequality. The US dairy and agri sector is heavily subsidised by its government. Our farmers won't stand a chance," Aswani Mahajan, the co-convenor of SJM, told News18.
In 2024, the agriculture and allied activities sector contributed approximately 16% of India's GDP at current prices. This sector also supports about 46.1% of the Indian population. Meanwhile, India ranks first in milk production, contributing 24.76% of global milk production. Milk production has grown at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.62% over the past 10 years, according to available data. India has approximately 80 million people associated with dairy farming, making it a significant industry in the country, according to a PIB report.
Despite the vocal objection of the Sangh's economic affiliate, the Modi government is also aware of what is at stake: 46.1% of the Indian population.
Mahajan explains that the meaning of Swadeshi has evolved; it is no longer limited to local produce like honey and biscuits. Today, it encompasses drones and defence equipment as well, he adds. Mahajan claims that some private players who have successfully ventured into PM Modi's Make in India initiative are also invited to Thursday's conclave.
First Published:
June 12, 2025, 08:00 IST