New Delhi: The nature of trade negotiations between India and the United States is in trouble because the US has demanded that India permits genetically modified (GM) products such as corn and soy. India is however insisting that it will not be swayed and that safety regulations and domestic agriculture should precede.
India has stringent regulations on GM crops and it has few GM crops that are even allowed to be cultivated such as cotton. According to the officials, they cannot trade food safety and environmental issues, and the livelihoods of farmers.
The US would like to have their farm products easier, yet India demands that no rules and safety should be neglected. According to experts, the importation of massive amounts of GM crops would also be detrimental to the Indian exports including organic and traditional products.
Farmer groups and environmental organizations back the stance of India. They believe that GM crops should not be in the market as this will preserve biodiversity and traditional farming methods that have been in existence over the centuries.
The trade war indicates that foreign transactions are not only about finances or market. Others also include food security, food safety and the environment. The strong position of India brings out the focus it has on the health of people and on sustainable agriculture.
