Government thanked for excluding soybeans and GM feed from trade deal

09-Feb-2026 08:42 PM

Indore. A leading industry and trade organization, the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), has thanked the central government for excluding soybeans and GM category soybean meal and feed from the framework of the bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States.

In a letter addressed to the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, the Chairman of SOPA congratulated him on behalf of the Soybean Processors Association of India for successfully negotiating the framework for the India-US trade agreement.

According to the Chairman, while some trade concessions/reliefs have been given to the US, soybeans, soybean meal, and other GM food and feed products have not been included. The government deserves appreciation for this.

The SOPA Chairman's letter further stated that last year, the association had submitted a detailed memorandum to the Ministry of Commerce highlighting the serious threats and risks posed to domestic farmers and the agricultural sector by the unrestricted import of GM products.

It stated that the import of GM soybeans and soybean meal would jeopardize the livelihoods of approximately 5 million soybean producers in the country. The Commerce Minister then drew a 'red line,' and the government refused to open the Indian market to GM crops.

This clearly indicates the government's commitment to protecting the Indian agricultural sector, especially the soybean value chain. Although soybean oil and DDGS have been included in the trade deal framework, it is expected that the government will keep a close watch on their imports.