US tariff exemptions give India’s farm exports a major boost
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India’s agricultural exporters are expected to gain stronger access to the US market after Washington approved tariff exemptions on 254 products.
Of these, 229 items are agricultural goods.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the exemptions cover nearly $1 billion worth of US imports from India, bringing a significant share of farm shipments under zero-duty access.
The exempted products include high-value categories such as fruits and nuts, spices, processed food items, tea, and coffee. These sectors have long sought better competitiveness in the US market.
India exported $2.5 billion worth of agricultural goods to the US in 2024. With the new measure, about 40% of that value now falls under duty-free access.
Several labour-intensive and agro-processed product categories are part of the exemption list. The move is expected to improve margins for exporters, widen market share, and create new opportunities for value-added agricultural goods.
For India, this tariff relief represents one of the most significant boosts to bilateral agricultural trade in recent years. It is likely to support farm incomes and strengthen rural manufacturing linked to food processing.
