Trade unions, farmers call for nationwide protest against US tariffs, UK trade deals on August 13
The Central Trade Unions, along with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha called for nationwide protest against US tariffs. The union alleged that the deal could permit companies like Cargill to enjoy unrestricted access to India's dairy and agricultural sectors, impacting local livelihoods and food security.
New Delhi: Central Trade Unions, along with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (CTA-SKM) declared a nationwide protest on August 13 against the US President's recent tariff threats and the India-UK Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) on Monday. As per the state, the 10 CTUs and SKM condemned Trump's threats to impose 25 percent tariffs on India with an additional penalty for purchasing oil from its rival nation, Russia.
The platform urged the farmers, students and citizens to participate in the protest through tractor and motorcycle rallies, protest demonstrations, and public gatherings. The platform viewed Trump's acts as " blatant economic coercion" and urged the people to raise their voice, condemning the act.
Blamed US for 'corporate imperialism'
The group demanded all trade negotiations between India and US to be halted immediately, to prevent further " corporate exploitation. The CTU- SKM even demanded India to reject Trump's endless threats and assert its sovereign right to trade with all nations, including Russia.
It further emphasised that all future deals undergo full parliamentary scrutiny and public consultation on all future deals undergo between India-US as well as the, to maintain complete transparency and avoid any discrepancies. The statement then compared the East India Company imperial policies with the current CETA and US trade deals, labelling it as "new instruments of corporate imperialism".
'Path towards deindustrialisation, unemployment'
In the later part, the group alleged that the threats expose the hypocrisy of the US which demands open markets for American corporations, while imposing unnecessary tariffs to bully other nations. The platform then criticised the Indian government’s silence to such threats which reveals its "growing subservience to western imperialist interests.”
The CTUs-SKM claimed the India-UK CETA deals sacrifice the interests of Indian farmers, workers, and broader economic independence in favour of foreign corporations. They alleged that the deal could permit companies like Cargill to enjoy unrestricted access to India's dairy and agricultural sectors, impacting local livelihoods and food security. The deals would further accelerate deindustrialisation and unemployment, while also undermining India’s healthcare and self-reliance in essential sectors, the statement added.