New Delhi: In a sharp response to the United States’ decision to impose an additional 25% tariff on imports from India, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday accused the U.S. of launching an “economic embargo” on the Indian people and called for nationwide protests, including the burning of effigies of President Donald Trump in villages across the country.
With the fresh hike, total U.S. tariffs on India now stand at 50%, the highest for any country globally. The move, justified by the U.S. on grounds that India continues to import oil from Russia, has been labelled as “intolerable, discriminatory, and imperialist” by the farmers’ coalition.
’Hypocrisy at Its Peak’
Drawing attention to the inconsistency in Washington’s policy, SKM cited data showing that the U.S. itself continues to import goods from Russia, including palladium (↑37%), uranium (↑28%), and fertilisers (↑21%). The group noted that China’s oil imports from Russia, as of August 2, 2025, stood at €1.9 lakh million, significantly higher than India’s €1.3 lakh million, yet the tariff imposed on China remains only 30%.
“Trump’s allegations are like Aesop’s fable of the wolf blaming the lamb for dirtying the water,” SKM said in a statement.
The farmers’ body claims that the real objective behind the tariffs is to pressure India into opening up its agriculture, fisheries, and dairy sectors to American multinational corporations and agribusiness giants.
India Must Assert Its Sovereignty, Says SKM
“India must not surrender to such bullying,” SKM stated, adding that over 50% of India’s population depends on agriculture, compared to just 2.6% in the U.S. The group warned that opening up Indian agriculture to foreign corporations would lead to the destruction of millions of livelihoods.
SKM supported the statement released by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which had called the U.S. tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable” and affirmed that India would “take all necessary steps to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
Demands Review of Free Trade Negotiations
The farmers’ union also demanded a Parliamentary review of all ongoing free trade negotiations, including the India–UK FTA and the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). SKM urged the Modi government to protect the interests of Indian farmers and workers in all such deals.
Call for Nationwide Protest on August 13
Reiterating its opposition, SKM has called for the nationwide burning of Trump’s effigies in villages, as a symbolic protest against U.S. economic aggression. The organisation also appealed to citizens to join the already announced joint farmer-worker protest on 13th August, coinciding with the 83rd anniversary of the Quit India Movement.
The protest will be held under the slogan: “MNCs Quit India, Corporations Quit Agriculture”
The SKM maintains that this resistance is not merely about trade but about India’s sovereignty, dignity, and the survival of its agrarian economy.
