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WASHINGTON, DC 20510

September 12, 2017

The Honorable Robert Lighthizer

US. Trade Representative

Of?ce of the US. Trade Representative
600 17th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20508

Dear Ambassador Lighthizer:

In President Trump?s recent joint press statement with Prime Minister Modi in the Rose Garden,
the president mentioned the importance of removing the barriers to the export of US. products to
India. We want to draw your attention to one barrier in particular, India?s high agricultural
tariffs, and urge you to work with India to reduce these tariffs.

India?s rapidly changing economy, growing middle class, and demand for consumer-oriented
agricultural products are positive market indicators for U.S. export growth. However, restrictive
import tariffs on certain agricultural products are constraining agricultural trade and undermining
development of deeper trade relations.

One example is the current disparity in the tariffs India charges on products classi?ed as tree
nuts. The current tariff on US. pecans entering India is approximately 36%, while the tariff for
other similar products, such as pistachios and almonds, is much lower at 10%.

Reducing the tariff on all tree nuts will encourage increased imports of a type of commodity that
enjoys popularity in India and will generate greater revenue for the country. For pecans in
particular, any increase in imports from the US. would not impact domestic pecan production in
India because the country currently produces very little, if any, pecans.

Additionally, increasing U.S. pecans imports to India presents an opportunity to advance issues
important to rural America. The pecan industry contributes over $3.75 billion to the rural
economies of the 15 pecan-producing southern states stretching from the Carolinas to California,
and exports alone over the last 10 years added an additional $1.25 billion in economic activity in
rural America.

There are fewer nations in the world that hold greater potential for economic cooperation and
trade partnership with the United States than India. Our shared democratic values and common
commitment to free markets present American businesses with tremendous possibilities in South
Asia.

As you and the Administration continue to explore new opportunities to grow the economy
through trade and promote American agriculture, it is imperative that a key part of strengthening

our trade relationship with India is reducing the tariffs that are impeding U.S. agricultural
exports.

Thank you for your attention to this request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sincerely,

TED CRUZ 
United States Senator nited States Senator
M. INHOFE
United States Senator Unite States Senator

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TOM UDALL MARTIN HEINRICH
United States Senator United States Senator

 

 

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DAVID PERDUE LUTHER STRANGE
United States Senator United States Senator

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OHN MCCAIN
United States Senator

Cc: The Honorable Sonny Perdue, Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture
The Honorable Wilbur Ross, Secretary, United States Department of Commerce