Washington: Two US senators from major pulse-producing states have appealed to President Donald Trump to take up the issue of India’s increased import duties on American-grown yellow peas, warning that the move is hurting farmers in the northern Plains.
In a letter dated January 16, Senators Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Steve Daines of Montana asked the President to prioritise pulse crops in future trade discussions with New Delhi. The lawmakers said India’s decision to levy a 30 per cent tariff on US yellow peas, effective from November 1, 2025, has placed American producers at a clear disadvantage in one of their most important overseas markets.
North Dakota and Montana together account for a large share of US pulse production, while India remains the single biggest global consumer of pulses, responsible for more than a quarter of worldwide demand. According to the senators, the tariff has sharply reduced the competitiveness of US exports at a time when farmers are already under pressure from rising costs and volatile markets.
The lawmakers urged Trump to directly engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek more favourable terms for US pulse growers, arguing that earlier concessions granted by India in 2023 had provided some relief but were effectively wiped out by the latest duties.
Trade Tensions in the Background
India’s tariff hike is widely seen as a response to Washington’s earlier trade measures. In August 2025, the US imposed a 50 per cent duty on certain Indian goods, citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. The subsequent Indian action on agricultural imports has drawn limited attention domestically but is now gaining visibility after the senators’ letter began circulating widely online.
Analysts say the move reflects India’s willingness to counter what it views as disproportionate trade actions, even as it seeks to protect domestic farmers and manage food security concerns.
Broader Economic Signals
The pulse tariff issue comes amid other signals of strain in US–India economic ties. Recent data showed India sharply reducing its holdings of US Treasury securities by more than USD 50 billion, reversing a trend of steady accumulation over the past several years.
Despite these developments, trade between the two countries continues to expand. Bilateral commerce recorded a 22 per cent year-on-year increase in November 2025, underscoring the depth of economic engagement between the two sides.
However, the absence of a finalised trade agreement suggests that negotiations remain complex, with agriculture, tariffs and strategic considerations emerging as key sticking points.
For farmers in the American Midwest and northern Plains, the outcome of these talks could determine whether access to one of the world’s largest food markets can be restored in the months ahead.
