India-US trade deal 99% finalised, says Sergio Gor
The US Ambassador to India shared that negotiations between India and the US have been underway for nearly one-and-a-half years.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has claimed that several agricultural products of Indian farmers will now be exported to the United States with zero tariffs and that American items will not receive this concession in the Indian market.
Amid concerns among Indian farmers after US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins claimed that more American farm products will be exported to India’s market, Chouhan stressed that India’s interests in agriculture and dairy are fully protected.
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He claimed that the US has significantly reduced tariffs on many agricultural products. “These include spices, tea, coffee, coconut, coconut oil, betel nut, cashew, vegetable wax, avocado, banana, guava, mango, kiwi, papaya, pineapple, mushrooms, and some grains as well.”
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He further stated that in 2024-25, India’s agricultural exports reached USD 4.45 billion. There has been an 88 per cent increase in spice exports.
Following this trade deal, he said, “Our spices will also gain a new and large market in the US.”
“No compromise has been made on the interests of Indian farmers, and no product that could harm farmers has been included in the agreement. All sensitive items have been kept outside the agreement,” he reiterated.
He reiterated that no tariff concessions of any kind have been given on products such as soybean, corn, rice, wheat, sugar, coarse grains, poultry, dairy, banana, strawberry, cherry, citrus fruits, green peas, chickpeas, mung beans, oilseeds, ethanol, and tobacco.
“The greatest worry was that our major grains must remain secure, and I can proudly say that all of them have been kept completely secure. No doors have been opened for the US for major grains, major fruits, and dairy products,” the Union Minister said.
“Many American agricultural products will not be able to enter the Indian market. Hulled grains, flour, wheat, corn, rice, millet, potato, onion, peas, beans, cucumber, mushrooms, pulses, frozen vegetables, oranges, grapes, lemons, strawberries, and mixed canned vegetables will not come to India,” he added.
As far as the dairy products are concerned, the Union Minister said that American liquid milk, powder, cream, yogurt, buttermilk, butter, ghee, butter oil, paneer and cheese will not get entry into India.
India will also not import black pepper, cloves, dry green chilies, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, asafoetida, ginger, turmeric, carom seeds, fenugreek, cassia, mustard, mustard seeds, husks, and other powdered spices from the US.
“The meaning is clear: our spices and our farmers are completely secure,” Union Minister Chouhan added.
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