As a sign of partnership, India will remove retaliatory tariffs on U.S. apples, chickpeas, lentils, almonds, and walnuts, said U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai on Thursday, The decision was announced as part of a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington.
“Removal of these tariffs is a major win for American farmers,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. India is a relatively small market for U.S. farm exports at present, with purchases forecast at $1.7 billion this fiscal year. The United States was expected to import was much — $3.4 billion — of Indian food and agriculture.
“U.S. Apple growers can now begin the work of competing for, and hopefully regaining, this critical market,” said Jim Bair, head of the U.S. Apple Association. Apple sales to India totaled half a billion dollars a year before plummeting to nearly zero as a result of a trade dispute between the nations.
The United States and India said they would seek dismissal of six trade challenges pending at the WTO. Tai said the actions were the result of two years of bilateral engagement. “U.S. agricultural producers and manufacturers will now enjoy renewed access to a critical global market and we will strengthen our trade relationship with one of our closest partners,” she said.
“Understanding the difficulties American ag has historically faced in India, we will also need to continue to roll up our sleeves to reach agreements that further open the Indian market to American ag exports,” said the U.S. coalition Farmers for Free Trade.