Trade relief: India to gain from US tariff cuts on select agri items; officials say level playing field restored

India is set to benefit modestly from the United States’ decision to withdraw reciprocal tariffs on a set of agricultural products, including tea, coffee and spices, the commerce ministry said on Monday, PTI reported. The tariff exemptions, announced through a White House Executive Order on November 12, took effect the next day.The move rolls back duties imposed under the April 2 reciprocal tariff regime and covers a wide range of items — coffee, tea, tropical fruits, fruit juices, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, beef and certain fertilisers. Officials said the change creates a level playing field for Indian exporters in categories where the country ships over USD 1 billion worth of goods each year, including spices, tea, coffee, fruits, nuts, processed foods, essential oils and edible roots.“Now our exports will have a level playing field,” Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce Darpan Jain told reporters.However, independent assessments suggest the boost for India could be limited. Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) co-founder Ajay Srivastava noted that India has little presence in several of the largest exempted lines such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, melons, bananas and most fresh fruits and juices.He said India may see marginal gains in spices and niche horticulture, but the larger beneficiaries of the US move will likely be Latin American, African and ASEAN exporters unless India strengthens cold-chain capacity, scales up production and broadens its agricultural export basket.