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.
Indian farmers protest against fresh US tariff threat
Indian farmers protest against fresh US tariff threat
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
