India resists US push to open its dairy market

New Delhi won't let in milk products unless US adopts India's veg certification

- Dhirendra Kumar

With a fall 2025 deadline looming for a comprehensive India-US trade pact, and negotiators deep in virtual discussions after settling terms, a potential sticking point has emerged: milk products.

According to three people familiar with the development, Indian negotiators have made it clear that unless the US changes its animal feeding practices—specifically the use of non-vegetarian feed for cattle—or adopts India's vegetarian certification process, there will be no question of letting in American dairy products such as cheese and butter. At the same time, India has conveyed its willingness to consider tariff concessions on certain nuts and fruits, the people said on the condition of anonymity.

"In the case of dairy products, it has been raised that the feeding practices in the US differ significantly from those in India. In the US, cattle are fed with stalled feed, which includes animal-based protein sources—a practice that raises concerns in India," said the first person.

"Indian cattle feed composition is well-known, with protein provided mainly through oil cakes, a plant-based source, while in western countries, it is not uncommon to add some animal fat," this person added.

Queries emailed to the commerce ministry remained unanswered till press time.

The Indian side has told its US counterparts that the issue goes beyond trade and involves deep social and cultural sensitivities. India's food safety rules take these sensitivities into consideration, prohibiting the use of certain animal-origin materials in cattle feed. Milk and meat-producing animals—excluding poultry and fish—cannot be fed feed containing meat or bone meal, internal organs, blood meal, or tissues derived from bovine or porcine sources.