US, India farm policies questioned at WTO

Farm support initiatives by India and US have been questioned by other WTO members in their questions submitted to the organisation’s quarterly agriculture committee meeting. Both US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi have declared a strong intent to improve farm incomes. The EU has asked India to give an explanation on how the Prime Minister plans to spend Rs 25 lakh crore ($357.5 billion) on agriculture and rural development and double farmers’ incomes by 2022. “How will this be done, taking into account global market prices of produce and measures put in place to prevent excess production?” the EU has asked. Even the US has questioned India’s 5% export subsidy for non-Basmati rice.