Days after India and the United States unveiled a framework for an interim, reciprocal, mutually beneficial trade arrangement, the White House on Monday released a fact sheet indicating that India would either scrap or lower tariffs on a range of American industrial goods as well as several food and agricultural products, including what it described as “certain pulses”.
The reference to pulses drew attention as it had not figured in the joint statement issued on February 6. According to the White House document titled Fact Sheet: The United States and India Announce Historic Trade Deal, New Delhi has committed to easing tariff barriers on all US industrial goods and on a broad set of agricultural items such as dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum, nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits, along with select pulses.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, however, offered a slightly different emphasis while addressing the media on Saturday. He said items like lentils had been entering India from the US for many years, including during the UPA government’s tenure, and would now see phased tariff reductions. Goyal also noted that products such as pistachios, walnuts and almonds had long been imported from the US, with some granted gradual tariff elimination and others exempted from the outset, Indian Express reported.
The White House fact sheet further pointed out that India has historically imposed among the highest tariffs on US goods compared to other major economies, citing average duties of around 37 per cent on agricultural products and rates exceeding 100 per cent on certain automobiles.
Official data shows that India’s pulses import bill rose sharply by 46 per cent to $5.48 billion in 2024–25, up from $3.75 billion the previous year. Of this total, imports from the US accounted for a relatively small share of $89.65 million. Lentils worth $78 million were imported from the US, placing it behind Canada and Australia as a supplier.
During 2024–25, India imported pigeon peas valued at over $1,285.40 million, Bengal gram worth $1,116.64 million, yellow peas amounting to $960.58 million and lentils worth $916.03 million. While tur and urad imports remain duty-free until March 31, 2026, yellow peas are subject to a 30 per cent duty from November 1, 2025, and lentils—the main pulse imported from the US—currently attract a 10 per cent tariff.