U.S. ag gains additional access to India

Jan 12, 2022

India will allow U.S. pork while the United States will receive mangoes and pomegranates

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

U.S. farmers will receive increased access to an Asian market, government officials revealed this week.

Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new agreement allowing U.S. pork and pork products to enter India.

In November 2015 the Indian government amended a universal veterinary health certificate for the imports of pork and pork products.

This action resulted in a ban of imports of U.S. pork because the USDA and India’s department of animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries had two different certificates.

In direct response, the Office of the United States Trade Representative eliminated India’s participation in the Generalized System of Preferences program in June 2019. This program provides developing countries beneficial access to the U.S. market.

This newly gained access will help the U.S. ag sector add to the $1.6 billion of ag products it exported to India in 2021.

“India’s agreement to allow U.S. pork imports for the first time is great news and a significant development for U.S. producers and for Indian consumers,” Tai said in a Jan. 10 statement.

Industry groups are pleased with the new access to India and its market of 1.26 billion people.

“After decades of work, a market that had been closed to U.S. pork is being opened,” National Pork Producers Council President Jen Sorenson said in a statement. “NPPC thanks the Biden administration for reaching an agreement with India on market access for our products. We look forward to the new access, which will allow us to provide affordable, wholesome and nutritious U.S. pork products to consumers in India.”

U.S. alfalfa hay for animal feed and cherries are also expected to gain access to the Indian market this year.

In exchange access to the Indian market, the U.S. will receive imports of mangoes and pomegranates from India.

Mango exports from India to the United States are scheduled to begin this month while pomegranate exports are likely to start in April.

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