Hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Indian rice citing ‘dumping’ concerns, senior American officials struck a far more positive tone. US Trade Representative Jamieson
Greer told lawmakers that India had presented some of the strongest trade proposals Washington had seen in years, particularly on agricultural market access.
Greer’s statement comes at a time when officials from his team are in Delhi to take forward the ongoing trade talks.
What did the US team say?
Speaking at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Greer said a USTR delegation was already in New Delhi negotiating market access for US farm products such as grain sorghum and soy.
He admitted that India continued to show “resistance” on a few sensitive crops but insisted that New Delhi’s latest position was far more flexible than before. According to him, India had been “quite forward-leaning” in recent rounds, making the country a “viable alternative market” at a time when US farmers are struggling with high inventories and unpredictable Chinese demand.
Committee Chair Jerry Moran, who represents Kansas, pressed Greer on reducing dependence on China and finding new overseas buyers. Moran described India as “a difficult country to crack,” to which Greer responded that talks were progressing further than in past administrations.
Greer also said the India discussions were part of a wider shift in US trade policy aimed at lowering deficits and securing reciprocal arrangements across the world. He cited progress in Southeast Asia and Europe, suggesting that these gains strengthened America’s negotiating position with major partners like India.
Beyond agriculture, tariff questions were emerging in other sectors as well. Greer pointed to ongoing talks over zero-tariff commitments for civil aviation parts under the 1979 Aircraft Agreement. He said negotiations with India were “fairly far advanced” and could continue if India was willing to offer matching access to US industries.
The hearing also touched upon India’s potential as a major buyer of ethanol produced from US corn and soy. Greer did not discuss India directly but said several countries had agreed to open their markets to American ethanol. He also noted that the European Union had committed to buying $750 billion worth of US energy products, including biofuels, over several years.
US farmers face tariff heat
Lawmakers raised concerns about the challenges faced by American farmers due to volatile tariffs and fluctuating Chinese purchases. Greer defended the administration’s strategy, arguing that intensive negotiation, backed by enforcement tools like tariffs, was unlocking new export opportunities. He said trading partners “respond to enforcement” and that this approach was helping reduce regulatory barriers and secure FDA approvals for medicines in foreign markets.
India-US trade ties
India-US trade ties have expanded steadily over the past decade, covering agriculture, digital services, aviation, pharmaceuticals and critical minerals. India remains one of America’s fastest-growing export destinations, though agriculture continues to face tariff and sanitary hurdles.
Talks have accelerated through the US-India Strategic Trade Dialogue and Indo-Pacific economic frameworks, as both countries seek to diversify supply chains and deepen commercial cooperation amid global geopolitical changes.
