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From non-negotiable to liberal: India sets agri tariff tiers for US

Concessions unlikely on grains; approach lenient towards almonds, blueberries

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The Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) highlighted India’s import prohibition of genetically modified corn and ethanol for fuel despite ambitious biofuel utilisation goals. | File Image

Asit Ranjan Mishra New Delhi

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In its delicate negotiations on agricultural items under the proposed trade deal with the United States (US), India has drawn clear red lines, categorising its farm commodities into three distinct buckets — non-negotiable, very sensitive, and liberal — based on their economic and political sensitivity, said a government official.
 
Staples such as rice and wheat fall under the non-negotiable category, where no tariff concessions will be entertained. Very sensitive items — such as apples, which carry political weight and are closely tied to farmer interests in states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — may face restricted concessions, possibly through minimum