In a letter dated January 16, 2026, Senators Kevin Cramer and Steve Daines urged the President “to advocate for advantageous pulse crop terms in any deal the United States” negotiates with India as talks progress.
Expressing gratitude to the President for his commitment to fostering a supportive economic climate for agricultural producers in North Dakota and Montana, the Senators emphasized that these states are the leading producers of pulse crops, including peas. As the world’s largest consumer of such crops, India accounts for about 27% of global consumption. The letter noted that the most widely consumed pulse crops in India encompass lentils, chickpeas, dried beans, and peas, further indicating that India has “imposed significant tariffs on American pulse crops.”
On October 30, 2025, India announced a 30% tariff on yellow peas, with the increased duty set to take effect on November 1, 2025. The Senators asserted that due to the inequitable Indian tariffs, US pulse crop producers are at a “notable competitive disadvantage” when trying to export their premium products to India.”
The letter also mentioned that the Senators had previously written to the President during his first term regarding this matter, with their letter being personally delivered to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid the 2020 trade discussions. They noted that engaging with PM Modi on the pulse crop tariffs could enhance economic collaboration, yielding mutual benefits for both American producers and Indian consumers, while American farmers are prepared to help bridge the gap as the US seeks to address trade imbalances.
As negotiations continue with the US for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), India’s Commerce Ministry indicated that while discussions are “very close” to being finalized, a specific deadline cannot be established. The Ministry clarified that a deal will only be struck when both parties deem it ready, mentioning that a virtual meeting occurred last month between India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and the US Trade Representative.
Highlighting that both parties have approached negotiations with optimism and believe a trade deal will materialize, the Commerce Ministry stated that sectoral data must be evaluated to understand the impact of US tariffs on India’s exports.
Describing exports to the US as a “mixed bag,” the Ministry noted that while pharmaceutical exports are ongoing and electronic goods have seen growth despite the absence of tariffs, setbacks in marine exports have been balanced through export diversification.
Noting that US tariffs have affected textile exports, the Ministry indicated that the government is attempting to enhance diversification through initiatives like the Export Promotion Mission and by exploring new export opportunities through FTAs with the UK, Oman, and New Zealand, which are intended to be operational within the current calendar year.
