News Capsule: US Threatens Higher Tariffs on Indian Rice
09-Dec-2025 12:35 PM
News Capsule: US Threatens Higher Tariffs on Indian Rice
★ US President Donald Trump has stated that India should not be "dumping" rice into the American market and assured that the issue will be "taken care of". During a meeting at the White House with farmers and agriculture industry representatives, Trump said that increasing tariffs could easily resolve the problem.
★ At the meeting, Louisiana rice miller Meryl Kennedy claimed that rice imports from India, Thailand and China are hurting US farmers. Trump responded that raising tariffs on such countries could quickly improve the situation.
★ India is the world’s largest rice producer and exporter, with a global export share of around 30% in 2024–25. According to IBEF, ★ India exported about 2.34 lakh tonnes of rice to the US in 2024, with varieties like Sona Masoori being popular in the American market.
★ The Trump administration has already imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India.
★ However, the Indian Rice Exporters Federation believes this is only a temporary hurdle. With strategy, diversification and flexibility, Indian exporters could continue to maintain and even expand their presence in the US market.