India trade unions, farmers call for nationwide protests
8/5/2025 4:44:00 PM
Ten major trade unions and a coalition of over forty Indian farmers’ unions have announced a nationwide protest on Aug. 13 against the recent India-UK trade deal and US President Donald Trump’s proposal to impose 25 percent tariffs on Indian goods over the country’s oil trade with Russia.
The unions termed the Trump administration’s actions as “blatant economic coercion” and called on citizens to resist them.
The organizers called upon “all farmers, workers, students and patriotic citizens to join the nationwide day of resistance on August 13, 2025, with various mass actions like tractor and motorcycle rallies, protest demonstrations, public gatherings, and other forms of protest as decided by different platforms and partner organizations,” according to an official statement.
Additionally, the groups demanded that the Indian government should stand firm against the threat of tariffs and assert its right to trade freely with all countries, including Russia.
Meanwhile, the organizers accused the India-UK Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) of practicing corporate imperialism, while demanding that future trade deals be finalized with complete transparency and with participation of all stakeholders.
“The East India Company colonized India through trade – today, CETA and US trade deals are the new instruments of corporate imperialism,” the statement said.
The groups said that US corporations were using tariffs to “bully sovereign nations,” while criticizing the Indian government for its silence.
Therefore, the planned protest aims to defend India’s sovereignty and economic independence.
“On August 13, farmers and workers will rise in defense of sovereignty and freedom, sending a clear message,” the statement added.
The unions termed the Trump administration’s actions as “blatant economic coercion” and called on citizens to resist them.
The organizers called upon “all farmers, workers, students and patriotic citizens to join the nationwide day of resistance on August 13, 2025, with various mass actions like tractor and motorcycle rallies, protest demonstrations, public gatherings, and other forms of protest as decided by different platforms and partner organizations,” according to an official statement.
Additionally, the groups demanded that the Indian government should stand firm against the threat of tariffs and assert its right to trade freely with all countries, including Russia.
Meanwhile, the organizers accused the India-UK Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) of practicing corporate imperialism, while demanding that future trade deals be finalized with complete transparency and with participation of all stakeholders.
“The East India Company colonized India through trade – today, CETA and US trade deals are the new instruments of corporate imperialism,” the statement said.
The groups said that US corporations were using tariffs to “bully sovereign nations,” while criticizing the Indian government for its silence.
Therefore, the planned protest aims to defend India’s sovereignty and economic independence.
“On August 13, farmers and workers will rise in defense of sovereignty and freedom, sending a clear message,” the statement added.