- By Ajeet Kumar
- Tue, 10 Feb 2026 02:35 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- White House claims India to reduce tariffs on US goods.
- Includes industrial items and agricultural products like pulses.
- Piyush Goyal assures protection for Indian agriculture.
The White House on Sunday (local time) released a new fact sheet where it claimed India will eliminate or "reduce tariffs" on American industrial goods and a wide range of food and agricultural products, including "certain pulses". The claimremains sensitive in the Indian market context.
When the White House released its first joint statement on Saturday, neither India nor America had mentioned "certain pulses". As of writing this article, the Indian side has not reacted to the latest fact sheet.
“India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of U.S. food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, certain pulses, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products,” read the statement by the White House on February 9.
The fact sheet underscored that India has maintained some of the highest tariffs on the United States of any major world economy, with tariffs as high as an average of 37 per cent for agricultural goods and more than 100 per cent on certain autos.
No mention of "certain pulses" in February 6 fact sheet
“India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products,” the joint statement issued on February 6 said.
Agriculture, dairy sectors completely protected in trade deal with US: Goyal
The government on Wednesday assured Parliament that the country's core sensitivities in food and agriculture have been fully safeguarded in the India-US trade deal, and the pact will enhance export competitiveness in the American market.
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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made a statement on the trade deal first in the Lok Sabha and later in the Rajya Sabha amid disruptions by opposition MPs, who sought clarifications but were not allowed by the Chair.
Making a statement soon after the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said that the negotiating teams of the two sides have engaged intensively over the last year at various levels.
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"Given the significant and varied interests of the two sides, it is natural that both sides would want to ensure the best possible outcome while safeguarding critical and sensitive sectors in their respective economies," the minister said.
During the course of these negotiations, Goyal said, the Indian side was able to do this, in particular, by ensuring that the interests of our agriculture and dairy sectors were protected. The US side, too, had areas that were sensitive from its point of view.
The agreement also provides a significant comparative advantage to Indian exporters, particularly in labour-intensive sectors and manufacturing. "I wish to reiterate to this august House that India's core sensitivities in food and agriculture have been fully safeguarded," Goyal said.
(With inputs from agency)