Bangladesh, Aug. 16 -- Escalating trade tensions between India and the United States have sparked a new wave of farmer-led protests across India, with agricultural groups calling for a boycott of American products. The confrontation, which follows Washingtons imposition of steep tariffs on Indian goods and its demands for access to Indias tightly protected agricultural and dairy markets, underscores the deep economic and political stakes in what has become a simmering trade dispute between two major democracies.

At the heart of the conflict lies a fundamental clash of priorities. For Washington, opening Indias vast consumer base to American agricultural exports has long been a strategic goal. For New Delhi, however, protecting its farmer...