There’s no clarity yet on the level of import duty reduction by India on US tree nuts comprising walnuts, almonds and pistachios. The domestic industry however believes that any duty cut would lead to lower prices, driving consumption among Indian consumers.
At the same time, duty-free access to the US market for spices, tea, coffee, mango, bananas, among various items is expected to boost exports. Wines and spirits from the US will also get concessional duties but officials said it would not be as low as those offered to the EU.
The US is the fourth largest market for Indian spices, accounting for an 8.4% share. Higher US shipments would benefit local producers at a time when spices exports fell 15% from a year ago during April to November 2025.
India has also granted a quota-based duty concession to the US on apples and cotton under the interim trade pact while fully protecting domestic apple growers, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said Saturday.
“Our apple farmers are fully protected, and there is no need to worry,” he said.
India has imposed a minimum import price of ₹80 per kg and an import duty of 25% on apples from the US, which means that apples priced below ₹100 per kg cannot be imported into India from the US. Currently, imported apples attract a 50% import duty with an MIP of ₹50 per kg, effectively barring imports priced below ₹75 per kg.