Wednesday, the Republic of India announced a major 70% cut to tariffs on U.S. pecan exports in what Senator Jon Ossoff is calling ‘a big win for Georgia farmers.’
From a press release from his office:
At the request of Georgia farmers, Sen. Ossoff has worked behind the scenes for months with U.S. trade negotiators and Indian government officials to open the Indian market for Georgia pecan growers.
“This is a huge win for Georgia pecan farmers, and it wouldn’t be possible without them,” said Sen. Ossoff. “India’s high pecan tariffs have prevented Georgia pecan exports to this market of more than one billion consumers. Today I can announce that after a year of painstaking diplomacy, the Indian government will cut that tariff by 70%. I thank U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai for her steadfast support, Indian Ambassador Sandhu for his constructive engagement, Senator Warnock for his teamwork, and Georgia’s farmers for their perseverance to secure this victory.”
Sen. Ossoff met seven times with India’s Ambassador to the U.S Taranjit Singh Sandhu over the last year, and the two agreed to work together to make improvements to the U.S.-India trade relationship.
Sen. Ossoff met last year with Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Sarah Bianchi, who agreed at his urging to put reducing India’s high pecan tariffs at the top of the U.S.-India trade agenda.
In August 2022, Sen. Ossoff personally led an economic delegation to the Republic of India to meet with key business and government leaders and continue urging for a reduction in tariffs.
Last month, Sen. Ossoff brought U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai and the U.S. Chief Agriculture Negotiator Doug McKalip to Georgia to meet with farmers and representatives of the main agricultural industries in the state, where they briefed leaders on efforts to find a reduction in India’s high tariff.
Sen. Ossoff said he heard about the concerns during engagements last year with Georgia pecan farmers in Tift and Turner counties.
