Washington, January 17 (ANI): Two Republican senators are urging US President Donald Trump to ensure that American pulse crop producers receive improved access to the Indian market as part of ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and India.
In a letter sent on January 16, Senators Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Steve Daines of Montana urged President Trump to include favorable pulse crop provisions in any future bilateral trade agreement with India. Both lawmakers represent states that are among the largest producers of pulses, including peas, lentils, and dried beans, in the United States, while India is the world’s largest consumer of these crops.
The letter highlights longstanding concerns among American farmers over India’s high agricultural tariffs, which raise the cost of US pulse exports and make them less competitive compared with other suppliers. According to US trade officials, India’s average applied tariff on agricultural goods is significantly higher than that of the United States, creating barriers for American producers seeking access to one of the world’s largest markets.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has said that the United States and India are actively engaged in finalizing a new trade deal. The Trump administration launched negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement with India on February 13 last year, and in April, the Office of the United States Trade Representative finalized the terms of reference for the agreement, laying the groundwork for mutually beneficial, multi-sector negotiations.
The USTR has found that India’s average applied tariff rate on agricultural products stands at 39 percent, compared with an average tariff of just 5 percent imposed by the United States. It also cited technical and regulatory barriers, along with market access restrictions in sectors such as agriculture, as factors that have reduced US exports to India.
Cramer and Daines argued that lowering these trade barriers would benefit both American farmers and Indian consumers, given India’s large demand for protein-rich pulses. They also noted that similar outreach was undertaken during President Trump’s first term, when a previous letter was personally delivered to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The appeal comes amid broader US-India trade discussions aimed at finalizing a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement, with agriculture remaining a key issue.
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