Putting farmer interests at the centre, Goyal stressed that the agreement opens the US market to several Indian agricultural products without imposing reciprocal tariffs, while ensuring domestic farmers are not harmed.
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“In agriculture too, many products from India will now be exported to the United States at zero duty,” Goyal said, adding that items such as tea, spices, coffee, coconut oil, copra and vegetable wax will face no import tariffs in the US.
He said a wide range of fruits, vegetables and farm produce — including banana, mango, guava, avocado, kiwi, papaya, pineapple, mushrooms, vegetable roots, cereals, barley, bakery products, cocoa products, sesame seeds, poppy seeds and citrus juices — will also enter the US market without tariffs.
There is a discussion across the country about how several agricultural products from India will now be able to enter the United States at zero duty, Goyal said, reiterating that the government has not taken any steps that would hurt farmer interests.
“I can say with full confidence that this India–US agreement does not harm the interests of India’s farmers, MSMEs, or the handloom and handicraft sectors in any way,” Goyal said. Beyond agriculture, Goyal said India’s pharmaceutical exports — worth about $13 billion — will be levied zero duties in the US. Gems and jewellery exports will also enjoy duty-free access, alongside several other high-value products.
Looking ahead, Goyal said smartphones exported from India will also attract zero duty in the future, adding that many other Indian exports will see reciprocal tariffs reduced to zero.
These include aircraft and machinery parts, generic drugs and pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds from Bengal, Kerala and Maharashtra, coins, platinum, clocks and watches, essential oils, select home décor items such as chandeliers, seeds, inorganic chemicals and compounds.
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No reciprocal tariffs will be levied on these products. Duties will now be zero in the US, Goyal said.
The minister underlined that the agreement reflects India’s growing export strength while balancing market access with domestic safeguards, particularly for agriculture.