Washington, D.C., Feb. 3 — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said Tuesday that a recently announced trade agreement with India is expected to increase American agricultural exports to that market and bring more revenue into rural communities. In a post on X, Rollins thanked President Donald Trump and said the deal will expand access to India’s large consumer base, raise commodity prices, and “pump cash into rural America.” She noted that in 2024 the U.S. ran a $1.3 billion agricultural trade deficit with India and described India’s growing population as an important opportunity for U.S. farm goods.
USDA figures show U.S. agricultural exports to India in 2025 totaled about $1.7 billion, driven primarily by tree nuts (almonds and pistachios), cotton and soybean oil.
Rollins’s comments came after President Trump announced the trade agreement on social media months after imposing 50 percent tariffs on Indian imports in August 2025. The administration’s summary, posted on Truth Social, said the deal includes substantial tariff reductions and asserted that India would pause purchases of Russian oil. The August tariff action had included a 25 percent component tied to crude imports from Russia, with U.S. officials arguing those purchases helped finance Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Congress has pressed for full details of the agreement, raising questions about provisions that would open India’s agricultural market and reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers to “zero,” as reported. Lawmakers criticized the public announcement and cited comments that the pact was concluded “on Modi’s request.” They warned that eliminating barriers entirely could disrupt Indian industry, traders and farmers, and have sought assurances about protections for farmers’ livelihoods.
This report is based on a syndicated feed and is published as received; the publisher assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.
