US Lawmakers Urge Trump to Push for Lower Indian Tariffs on Pulse Crops in Trade Talks

Washington, D.C., Jan 16: Two Republican lawmakers have urged former U.S. President Donald Trump to press India to lower tariffs on American pulse crops in any future bilateral trade negotiations, arguing that current duties place U.S. farmers at a major competitive disadvantage.

In a letter dated January 16, Senators Steve Daines of Montana and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said India’s tariff regime on pulse crops such as lentils, chickpeas, dried beans, and peas is “unfair” and harms American agricultural producers.

The senators noted that Montana and North Dakota are the top U.S. producers of pulse crops, while India is the world’s largest consumer, accounting for nearly 27% of global pulse consumption.

Concerns Over High Tariffs on US Pulse Exports

According to the lawmakers, India imposed a 30% tariff on yellow peas starting November 1, 2025, following an announcement on October 30. They argued that such duties significantly restrict U.S. access to the Indian market despite strong demand.

“As a result of the unfair Indian tariffs, U.S. pulse crop producers face a significant competitive disadvantage when exporting their high-quality product to India,” the senators wrote.

They added that engaging Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue would be mutually beneficial—boosting income for American farmers while offering Indian consumers greater access to competitively priced, high-quality pulses.

Trade Talks and Past Precedent

The lawmakers recalled that during Trump’s first term, they had raised similar concerns ahead of the 2020 U.S.–India trade negotiations. They said Trump had personally delivered their letter to Modi, helping U.S. producers gain a seat at the negotiating table.

The issue gained further momentum after United States removed India from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in June 2019, following which New Delhi imposed additional duties on American agricultural exports.

“As the United States looks to rebalance trade disparities, American farmers are ready to help fill the gap,” the senators said. “They have tremendous capacity to feed and fuel the world if trade opportunities are unleashed.”

Call for Favorable Provisions in Future Deals

Thanking Trump for his past efforts to support agricultural producers, the senators urged him to seek favorable pulse crop provisions in any future trade agreement with India, emphasizing the importance of fair market access for U.S. farmers.