US releases fact sheet on trade deal, mentions ‘certain pulses’ among agricultural products to see tariffs cut

This paragraph differs from the one mentioned in the February 6 joint statement, which detailed the “key terms” of the interim agreement between the US and India.

“India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products,” the joint statement issued on February 6 said.

The joint statement was announced following a call between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, in which the leaders reached a framework for an interim agreement on reciprocal trade and reaffirmed their commitment to broader US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations.

Addressing a press conference in Bhopal on February 8, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that hulled grains, flour, wheat, corn, rice, millet, potato, onion, peas, beans, cucumber, mushrooms, pulses, frozen vegetables, oranges, grapes, lemons, strawberries, and mixed canned vegetables will not come to India.

However, when Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal addressed the media Saturday, he mentioned “lentils” among the items that have been imported from the US for years and will see tariff cuts.

“We’ve been importing some items for 20 years, even during the UPA government’s tenure. Some items, like pistachios, walnuts, almonds, and lentils, have been exported [from the US to India] for years. We’ve granted phased eliminations on some of these items, and we’ve granted exemptions from the very beginning for certain items we need,” Goyal said.

The White House fact sheet also states, “India has maintained some of the highest tariffs on the United States of any major world economy, with tariffs as high as an average of 37% for agricultural goods and more than 100% on certain autos.”

India’s pulses import bill jumped by 46 per cent to $5.48 billion in fiscal year 2024-25 from $3.75 billion in 2023-24. Of India’s total pulses bill of $5.48 billion in 2024-25, the US accounted for only $89.65 million. India imported a small quantity of lentils worth $78 million from the US during the last fiscal year, ranking third after Canada ($466 million) and Australia ($328 million).

In 2024-25, India imported $1,285.40 million worth of pigeon peas, $1,116.64 million of Bengal Gram, $960.58 million of yellow peas, and $916.03 million of lentils.

While imports of tur and urad are allowed duty-free until March 31, 2026, yellow pea imports attract a 30 per cent duty from November 1, 2025. Lentils, the main pulse imported from the US, currently attract a 10 per cent duty