Punjab Farmers Oppose Proposed India-US Trade Deal at Chandigarh Border Protest

Trade deal as a flashpoint

Opposition to the proposed India-US trade deal has emerged as a major flashpoint in the Samyukta Kisan Morcha's seven-day protest at the Chandigarh-Mohali border, which began on September 1, 2026. Farmer leaders have argued that the agreement would be detrimental to agriculture and the broader interests of the country, and have demanded that negotiations be scrapped.

The concern centres on the entry of subsidised American agricultural products into Indian markets. Unions contend that cheaper imports could put downward pressure on domestic crop prices and make Indian farmers, already facing input cost pressures, less competitive in their own market.

Broader opposition beyond Punjab

Opposition to the trade deal is not limited to the border protest. In Amritsar, the Bharti Kisan Union Ekta Ugraha held a separate demonstration outside the Deputy Commissioner's office, with leaders describing the proposed agreement as a threat to farming livelihoods. Reports quoted district leaders alleging that the deal would facilitate increased entry of foreign agricultural products.

The SKM had warned earlier in 2026 that farmers would launch widespread agitation if the government signed a free trade agreement opening agriculture and dairy sectors to US imports. The September protest brings that warning into a concrete week-long mobilisation at a location chosen for its visibility to both Punjab and central authorities.

Dairy and crop sectors at stake

Farmer groups have raised concerns about both crop agriculture and allied sectors such as dairy. They argue that trade agreements negotiated under pressure from corporate interests could expose rural businesses to import competition that domestic producers cannot match, particularly where foreign agriculture receives substantial subsidies.

The protest charter links trade opposition to demands for a legal MSP guarantee, arguing that opening markets without price protection would leave farmers doubly exposed. SKM leaders have said they are opposed to free trade agreements with both the United States and European countries on similar grounds.

Government response awaited

Neither the Union nor the Punjab government had, as of September 4, publicly responded to the trade-related demands at the protest site. SKM leaders accused both of silence despite repeated memorandums submitted in the months before the agitation.

The protest is scheduled to continue through September 7, with farmer leaders saying they would decide on further action depending on whether the governments engage meaningfully. For Punjab's farmers, the trade deal has become part of a wider package of grievances that includes seed and electricity legislation, water rights and debt relief.