India’s mango, pomegranate, and tea exports may profit from US President Donald Trump’s reduction of food import duties as “affordability” emerges as a major political force.
The White House declared on Friday that imports that won’t be subject to reciprocal tariffs include spices, tea, and tropical fruits and juices.
The White House Factsheet also highlighted oranges, tomatoes, steak, coffee and tea, and cocoa.
Trump levied a punitive 25% tariff for purchasing Russian oil and imposed 25% reciprocal duties on imports from India.
However, Trump previously exempted generic medications from tariffs in an effort to control inflation, which benefited India, which provides 47% of the generic medications prescribed in the US.
The additional tariffs, which importers and merchants either fully or partially passed on to consumers, contributed to some of the price hikes for food products.
Democrats’ emphasis on “affordability” during the recent elections in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia helped them win because increasing expenses generally put a strain on voters’ wallets.
Voters were more interested in the more commonplace problem of costs, even if Trump has been preoccupied with foreign policy, tariffs, and investments.
According to an NBC News poll this week, 30% of Republicans agreed with 63% of all registered voters that Trump had not lived up to their expectations about the economy and cost of living.
Trump criticized the “affordability” argument as a “complete con job” by the Democrats, citing reduced energy and gas prices as well as the higher inflation rate under former President Joe Biden, which at one point reached 19.7%.
Despite being slowed down under Biden’s presidency, inflation is still racing forward, with a September rate of 3%.
However, some food items have seen price increases due to tariffs.
The September Consumer Price Index statistics showed that prices for meat and veal increased by 14.7% and for roasted coffee by 18.9%.
In Indian grocery stores, the cost of imported foods and spices has increased by almost thirty percent.
After former President George W. Bush removed the prohibition with great fanfare in 2006, mango imports from India now hold a particular position in US-India ties.
During his February visit, Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi included mangoes in their joint statement along with missiles, nuclear cooperation, and technological innovation.
According to the statement, “India also expressed appreciation for US measures taken to enhance exports of Indian pomegranates and mangoes to the United States.”
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