Farmers and trade unions in India took to the streets on Wednesday in Rohtak, a town in northern India, to condemn U.S. tariffs and punitive taxes on oil trading with Russia. U.S. President Donald Trump announced an additional 25 percent trade tariff on India on Aug 6, citing its continued oil purchases from Russia, taking the total levy to 50 percent. The additional tariffs would be applicable from Aug. 27. Hundreds of protesters demanded India to reject tariff threats and assert its right to trade freely with all countries. The farmers and farm workers sent a clear message to the government: India must push back against U.S. pressure. For the protesters, it's about lives and livelihoods. They oppose the Trump tariffs and the planned opening of the agriculture and dairy sectors under a Foreign Trade Agreement set to be signed between the two nations. "If there are trade agreements with America, 80 million dairy workers will lose their livelihoods. If they make this agreement in the agriculture sector, Indian farmers will be uprooted. It is a fight for our livelihoods. It's a fight to save our crops," said Sumit Singh, a farmer leader. After Trump announced the tariff on India, anti-American sentiment has been on the rise. In many parts of the country, it became a show of strength, with farmers and workers uniting in protest. "It is only 2 percent who are farmers in the U.S. and here it is more than 50 percent who are depending upon that and because of that we cannot afford to hand over and open up our agriculture sector for multinational companies, or for U.S. or UK for that matter, or another country on unequal terms," said Inderjit Singh, leader of the farmer union. "The women who are taking care of their families based on the dairy sector will lose their source of earning, and it will lead to starvation. So, it's very important to protest against this," said Sushila Khasa, a women's right activist. Last week the Prime Minister of India said that he is ready to "pay a very heavy price" to protect the agriculture, dairy and fisheries sectors. Experts say these sectors make up a strong political group in the country and the government cannot afford to alienate them. SHOTLIST: Rohtak, India - Aug 13, 2025 1. Various of protest in progress, protesters shouting, holding placards, flags; 2. Photo of U.S. President Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi; 3. SOUNDBITE (Hindi, dubbed with English) Sumit Singh, farmer leader: "If there are trade agreements with America, 80 million dairy workers will lose their livelihoods. If they make this agreement in the agriculture sector, Indian farmers will be uprooted. It is a fight for our livelihoods. It's a fight to save our crops."; 4. Various of protest in progress, protesters shouting, holding placards, flags; 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Inderjit Singh, farmer union leader: "It is only 2 percent who are farmers in the U.S. and here it is more than 50 percent who are depending upon that and because of that we cannot afford to hand over and open up our agriculture sector for multinational companies, or for U.S. or UK for that matter, or another country on unequal terms."; 6. SOUNDBITE (Hindi, dubbed into English) Sushila Khasa, women's right activist: "The women who are taking care of their families based on the dairy sector will lose their source of earning, and it will lead to starvation. So, it's very important to protest against this."; 7. Various of protest in progress. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]