India Pushes for Organic Soybean Exports in Trade Talks with US

30-Apr-2025 11:36 AM

Mumbai. Indian industry and trade organizations are urging the government to press for the inclusion of organic, non-GM soybean and soymeal exports in the ongoing bilateral trade agreement negotiations with the United States. The US had previously imported organic soybean products from India but later halted the trade due to domestic concerns.

According to a leading trade body, the current trade talks offer a strategic opportunity for India to push for the resumption of these exports, particularly as the US seeks greater access to Indian markets for its agricultural products.

The organization suggests that if India agrees to lower tariffs and ease non-tariff barriers on American goods, it should, in return, demand the reopening of the US market for Indian products such as organic, non-GM soybean and soymeal.

Previously, India exported 1.5 to 2 lakh tonnes annually of these products to the US. However, the US later imposed a safeguard duty to protect its domestic producers, effectively halting imports from India.

While major soybean producers like the US, Brazil, and Argentina predominantly grow genetically modified (GM) soybeans, India strictly prohibits the cultivation and trade of GM soy. Only traditional, non-GM soybean varieties are grown domestically, with some cultivated under certified organic standards.

Industry leaders believe that this unique position could help India reclaim a niche in the US market. At the same time, the US is pressuring India to allow large-scale imports of soybeans and maize, which are mostly GM varieties.

While India may consider permitting maize imports for ethanol production, any decision regarding GM soybean imports would require extensive policy deliberation and regulatory clearances.

Trade bodies argue that the mutual recognition of each other’s agricultural strengths and sensitivities should be the foundation of any future agreement.