3 Things Red lines in trade talks, India’s widest tunnel, and Bihar voters get relief
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Jul 7, 2025 In this conversation, Harish Damodaran, the National Rural Affairs and Agriculture Editor at The Indian Express, tackles the thorny negotiations over the India–US trade deal, spotlighting agricultural tensions. He reveals the complexities surrounding tariffs and essential crops like maize. The discussion also takes a turn to Rajasthan's ambitious tunnel project, outlining its geological challenges and environmental concerns. Finally, the troubling electoral roll revisions in Bihar raise critical issues about voter disenfranchisement just before the elections.
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Agriculture Holds Trade Talks Back
- Agriculture is the major sticking point in India-US trade talks.
- India resists opening its agriculture market while the US pressures for access to key American products.
India's Agricultural Red Lines
- India's red lines in agriculture include soya bean, maize, and milk due to economic, political, and cultural reasons.
- India prohibits genetically modified maize and soya bean and rejects dairy products from animals fed with animal-origin feed.
US Seeks New Maize Market In India
- The US wants India as a new large market for maize and soya bean amid its trade war with China.
- Both crops are indispensable for India's growing milk and meat consumption as feed ingredients.