Trump's Rice Tariff Threat: Impact on Indian Basmati Exports and US Consumers

Dec 09, 2025 05:38 pm CST

US President Trump's potential new tariffs on Indian rice may have minimal impact on Indian exports but could significantly affect American consumers. Industry experts note that basmati rice, which constitutes most of India's $390 million rice exports to the US, remains irreplaceable due to its unique qualities. The Indian Rice Exporters Federation highlights that previous tariff increases primarily resulted in higher retail prices for US consumers while Indian exporters maintained stable markets through global diversification.