US Pushes for Greater Market Access for Agri Exports to India

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday reiterated that reciprocal tariffs would come into effect from 2 April

- Rajeev Jayaswal

Agricultural produce has emerged as one of the key focus areas of the ongoing discussions between India and the US for a trade deal, people familiar with the matter said, adding that despite popular perception, it is possible for either country to enhance market access by reducing tariffs and removing non-tariff barriers.

"It can be done on reciprocal basis as the two countries are complementing, and not competing with, each other in a host of items, making greater market access for those items possible without hurting their respective farming communities," one of them said, citing pulses, edible oil, tree nuts, forest products, frozen turkey and frozen duck as products that India could import from the US.

The people, who asked not to be identified, said that apart from the demand to reduce tariffs on automobiles, the Trump administration is keen for greater access to Indian markets for a variety of American agricultural produce. In some cases, this will require reduction in tariffs, they added, and in others, it will require the scrapping of non-tariff barriers.