US Senators Ask Trump to Seek Tariff Relief from India Amid Ongoing Trade Disputes

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In a surprising move, US senators from Montana and North Dakota have urged President Donald Trump to negotiate with India to ease tariffs on American pulse crop imports. The lawmakers, Steve Daines and Kevin Cramer, argue that Indian tariffs on yellow peas have put US producers at a competitive disadvantage. Montana and North Dakota are the top US producers of pulse crops, with India being its largest consumer, accounting for 27% of global intake. However, India imposed a 30% tariff on US yellow pea exports in November 2025, citing concerns over cheap imports suppressing local crop prices. The senators have requested Trump to engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss reducing the tariffs, which they claim would benefit both American producers and Indian consumers. The request comes at a time when the US is enforcing a 50% tariff on Indian imports, imposed by Trump as a penalty for India's oil trade with Russia. India's decision to impose tariffs on yellow peas was made after domestic farmers urged the government to intervene due to the impact of cheap imports on local crop prices. The US and India are yet to reach a trade deal, with the US commerce secretary recently claiming that a potential agreement fell through due to PM Modi not engaging with Trump. However, India has rejected this claim, stating its continued interest in a mutually beneficial agreement.