Farm Import Duties to Remain in EU FTA

31-Jan-2026 12:39 PM

New Delhi. Under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), the Indian government has refused to reduce import duties or provide any other non-tariff concessions on certain products, including rice, wheat, pulses, maize, fruits and vegetables, dry fruits and spices, dairy products, cheese, and marine products.

This ensures that the interests of the Indian agricultural sector and the farming community will not be harmed by the provisions of the free trade agreement.

The bilateral trade agreement with the US is stalled because the US is insisting on exporting genetically modified (GM) maize and soybeans to India, while the Indian government is not prepared to allow this.

Some US lawmakers are also strongly pushing for duty-free exports of pulses to India, but the chances of an agreement on this are very low.

India is self-sufficient in the production of rice, wheat, maize, poultry products, and spices, among others. It is the world's leading producer and exporter of rice.

Similarly, after China, India is the world's second-largest producer of wheat. It ranks fifth in maize production. India does not need to import these grains, or the import requirement is negligible.

India maintains its position as the world's leading producer and exporter of spices. The European Union exports wheat and dairy products on a large scale.