US removes pulses from statement on India trade deal

The US administration has revised its fact sheet on the trade agreement with India, removing references to pulses, including lentils and chickpeas. The change added to the confusion surrounding the deal, which had already raised concerns among Indian farmer groups.

In the earlier version released at the start of the week, the White House stated that India could eliminate or reduce tariffs on a wide range of US agricultural and food products, including certain pulses. The updated version removed this reference and softened the language regarding India’s plans to increase purchases of American goods.

Indian farmer organizations, which represent a politically influential bloc, had previously criticized the deal for potential concessions to the US and lack of clarity. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha coalition announced plans to hold nationwide protests against the trade agreement.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has sought to reassure the agricultural sector, emphasizing that sensitive areas, including dairy and poultry, were excluded from the negotiations. Indian officials also stressed that the government had only expressed an intention to expand US imports, not binding commitments.

US President Donald Trump announced the trade deal last week following talks with Modi. The agreement includes reducing reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 25% and removing an additional duty previously imposed on India for Russian oil purchases.

Both sides are now working toward a detailed bilateral agreement to be finalized by March, while analysts say the deal’s impact on India is mixed — benefiting exporters of labor-intensive goods but posing challenges for certain domestic industries.

Tags: India, USA, chickpea, pulses, lentil, duties