Conner in Politico on India’s Ag Trade Tactics

Politico Pro writer Doug Palmer took a look at how President Trump’s threat to impose a 26 percent tariff on all Indian goods would impact agricultural trade. As the Administration made hopeful remarks about India opening up to American farmers, DTB AgriTrade trade expert Ben Conner provided a more pragmatic point of view.

Trump’s threat to impose a 26 percent tariff on all Indian goods creates a new negotiating dynamic, but the United States has tried for years to pry open India’s agricultural market without much success, said Ben Conner, a partner at DTB AgriTrade, a consulting firm.

“I certainly don’t want to prejudge anything, but India’s political instincts on agricultural trade have been among the most protectionist in the world,” Conner said. “I don’t think that has changed.”

In addition to India’s high tariff and non-tariff barriers, Indian farmers also benefit from government programs that drive up production of wheat and rice and then dump the surplus on world markets, Conner added.