June 4, 2026

US President Donald Trump has lowered import duties on nearly 200 food and agricultural items, including spices and tea, to ease rising domestic prices. This move provides a significant boost to India’s key agri exports, though seafood and basmati rice remain under tariff sanctions. The exemptions aim to create a level playing field for Indian products in the US market. WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: Indian spice merchants and tea growers will be among global exporters who will breathe easy along with American consumers after US president Donald Trump, feeling the heat of rising domestic prices due to tariffs, moved to lower import duties on nearly 200 food, farm, and agricultural items. Tucked deep in the list is a range of spices, including black pepper, cloves, cumin, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, varieties of tea, mango derivatives, and some nuts, including cashew, all of which India exports to the US. Also read- Masala Chai! As Americans go bananas over tariffs, Trump smells the coffee, eases import duties; relief for Indian tea and spicesTrump’s duty waiver gives major boost to India’s key agri exports Indian spice exports to the US were valued at more than $500 million in 2024, and the US imported tea and coffee from India worth nearly $83 million in the same period. The US also imported $843 million worth of fresh or dried cashew nuts – which also got a break – from across the world, with India accounting for around 20% of the imports.Not making the cut, however, are Indian seafoods, including shrimp, and basmati rice, which are multi-billion dollar exports from India to the US. Indian gems, jewellery, and apparel, too, remain under 50% US tariff sanctions, pending a trade deal that Trump has said will happen once New Delhi turns off the Russian oil spigot and steps up buying US energy.Effectively, the exemptions apply only to little over $1 billion in qualifying agricultural exports from India.Indian govt officials said in New Delhi that 50 processed food products, whose exports were estimated at $491 million last year, including coffee and tea extracts, cocoa preparations, juices, fruit pulps, mango-based products and vegetable waxes, will be the top gainers. Next will be spices, whose exports were pegged at $359 million last year.They said that 48 fruits and nuts, such as coconuts, guavas, mangoes, cashew nuts, bananas, areca nuts, and pineapples, also stand to benefit although the value of these exports was around $55 million. This amounts to nearly a fifth of India’s agricultural exports, estimated at $5.7 billion. Exempted products were estimated at around 40% of India’s goods exports of $86 billion last year.Also read- ‘Complain, Complain, Complain,’: Donald Trump withdraws support for longtime ally Marjorie Taylor Greene who presented bill to get rid of H-1B visas”These reductions will provide a level-playing field for these agri exports which were disadvantaged due to higher tariffs on India’s exports vis-a-vis its competitors. Our products are well-placed to gain due to existing supplier credibility, established distribution networks, and strong diaspora-driven demand – factors that provide a competitive edge in the US,” said an Indian govt official.Trump’s rollback, announced through an executive order he signed on Friday, comes amid growing disquiet across the country over the cost of living, reflected in voter dissatisfaction that led to a GOP rout in byelections at the hands of Democrats who campaigned on the “affordability” message. The US president has also floated the idea of using tariff revenue to issue $2,000 rebate checks to Americans and launched a probe into the meat packing industry following Americans’ beef over high prices.Also read- Make America Grate Again: Trump vs MTG in epic MAGA maelstrom after she tries to maim H1b visasUS trade associations and political and economic commentators expressed relief at the president’s rollback, which came even as he insisted his tariffs have not increased cost of living and prices have come down.The US president and his followers are accused of being tone deaf to cost-of-living issues, prompting one wag to remark: “My budget and my reality are not on speaking terms anymore.” The subject became a lightning rod for criticism after Trump hosted a Gatsby-themed Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago estate and embarked on building an extravagant ballroom bigger than the White House it will be attached to – all the while preening about what critics describe as a gilded Oval Office now garishly overlaid with gold curios and accents.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Nitish Still X-Factor’ Pavan Verma Decodes Why Jan Suraaj Couldn’t Break Through in Bihar Polls”I have no family…” Rohini Acharya Cuts Ties With Lalu Clan, Exits Politics Post-RJD DefeatIndian Coast Guard Holds Massive Rescue Drill in Paradip; Focus on Coastal Preparedness’MMC’: PM Modi Mocks Congress After NDA’s Bihar Win; Calls It ‘Muslim League Maoist’ Party‘Abandoned Tribals To Their Fate’: PM Modi Accuses Congress Of Neglecting Tribal CommunitiesCDS General Anil Chauhan Highlights Inter-Service Jointness And Integration In Op SindoorEAM Jaishankar, Russian FM Lavrov To Hold Talks In Moscow On Nov 17 Ahead Of Putin’s India TripAir Marshal AK Bharti Reveals Why India Ended Operation Sindoor After Achieving Its Core ObjectiveWTO DG Okonjo-Iweala Lauds India’s Trade Strategy, Calls For Multilateral LeadershipPakistan Rejects Taliban Narrative And Says Rising Terror From Afghan Soil Can No Longer Be Ignored123Photostories3 coffee mistakes top Harvard doctor want you to stop making and whyFrom personal battles to big-screen wins Arjun Kapoor steps into his own voiceDiabetes now affects 1 in 6 pregnancies: WHO recommendations on risks, challenges, and management14 iconic and interesting Kerala dishes one should tryColon cancer: 7 ultra-processed foods you should avoid to reduce the risk7 foods that are making your IBS worse7 countries where people age beautifully (and what they teach us about longevity)5 style lessons from Michelle Obama every woman must learn5 jewellery pieces that can be made out of your mangalsutra6 ancient 10-minute yoga poses that will help sharpen memory and increase focus123Hot PicksAlinagar Election ResultRaghopur Election ResultBihar Election Result 2025Gold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingKayla NicoleArjun TendulkarVasai School MaharashtraDubai Prince Sheikh Hamdan Net WorthRCB IPL RetentionBengaluru Techie Shoes MissingUS VisaWayne Gretzkys SonDak PrescottPercy Harvin

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins


With prices on boil, Trump lowers duties on tea, spices

WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: Indian spice merchants and tea growers will be among global exporters who will breathe easy along with American consumers after US president Donald Trump, feeling the heat of rising domestic prices due to tariffs, moved to lower import duties on nearly 200 food, farm, and agricultural items. Tucked deep in the list is a range of spices, including black pepper, cloves, cumin, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, varieties of tea, mango derivatives, and some nuts, including cashew, all of which India exports to the US. Also read- Masala Chai! As Americans go bananas over tariffs, Trump smells the coffee, eases import duties; relief for Indian tea and spices

Trump’s duty waiver gives major boost to India’s key agri exports

Indian spice exports to the US were valued at more than $500 million in 2024, and the US imported tea and coffee from India worth nearly $83 million in the same period. The US also imported $843 million worth of fresh or dried cashew nuts – which also got a break – from across the world, with India accounting for around 20% of the imports.

Zero-duty advantages on goods

Not making the cut, however, are Indian seafoods, including shrimp, and basmati rice, which are multi-billion dollar exports from India to the US. Indian gems, jewellery, and apparel, too, remain under 50% US tariff sanctions, pending a trade deal that Trump has said will happen once New Delhi turns off the Russian oil spigot and steps up buying US energy.Effectively, the exemptions apply only to little over $1 billion in qualifying agricultural exports from India.Indian govt officials said in New Delhi that 50 processed food products, whose exports were estimated at $491 million last year, including coffee and tea extracts, cocoa preparations, juices, fruit pulps, mango-based products and vegetable waxes, will be the top gainers. Next will be spices, whose exports were pegged at $359 million last year.They said that 48 fruits and nuts, such as coconuts, guavas, mangoes, cashew nuts, bananas, areca nuts, and pineapples, also stand to benefit although the value of these exports was around $55 million. This amounts to nearly a fifth of India’s agricultural exports, estimated at $5.7 billion. Exempted products were estimated at around 40% of India’s goods exports of $86 billion last year.Also read- ‘Complain, Complain, Complain,’: Donald Trump withdraws support for longtime ally Marjorie Taylor Greene who presented bill to get rid of H-1B visas“These reductions will provide a level-playing field for these agri exports which were disadvantaged due to higher tariffs on India’s exports vis-a-vis its competitors. Our products are well-placed to gain due to existing supplier credibility, established distribution networks, and strong diaspora-driven demand – factors that provide a competitive edge in the US,” said an Indian govt official.Trump’s rollback, announced through an executive order he signed on Friday, comes amid growing disquiet across the country over the cost of living, reflected in voter dissatisfaction that led to a GOP rout in byelections at the hands of Democrats who campaigned on the “affordability” message. The US president has also floated the idea of using tariff revenue to issue $2,000 rebate checks to Americans and launched a probe into the meat packing industry following Americans’ beef over high prices.Also read- Make America Grate Again: Trump vs MTG in epic MAGA maelstrom after she tries to maim H1b visasUS trade associations and political and economic commentators expressed relief at the president’s rollback, which came even as he insisted his tariffs have not increased cost of living and prices have come down.The US president and his followers are accused of being tone deaf to cost-of-living issues, prompting one wag to remark: “My budget and my reality are not on speaking terms anymore.” The subject became a lightning rod for criticism after Trump hosted a Gatsby-themed Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago estate and embarked on building an extravagant ballroom bigger than the White House it will be attached to – all the while preening about what critics describe as a gilded Oval Office now garishly overlaid with gold curios and accents.





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TMC chief Mamata Banerjee with nephew Abhishek Banerjee NEW DELHI: What began as a routine interaction in Delhi has culminated in the most serious internal crisis in the history of the Trinamool Congress, resulting in a split that has shaken the party founded by Mamata Banerjee nearly three decades ago.On Wednesday, a group of 58 rebel MLAs led by expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee claimed control of the TMC legislature party after securing recognition from Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose. The dramatic development capped nearly two weeks of escalating tensions fuelled by allegations of forged signatures, resentment over the growing influence of Abhishek Banerjee and an increasingly visible succession battle within the party.The seeds of the crisis were sown in the aftermath of the party’s assembly election defeat on May 4. Discontent began surfacing among sections of newly elected legislators, many of whom privately expressed concern over what they saw as the concentration of power around Abhishek Banerjee, the party’s national general secretary and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew.Those concerns became more pronounced during a meeting of MLAs on May 6 when Mamata Banerjee reportedly asked legislators to applaud Abhishek for his role in the election campaign. While intended as a gesture of appreciation, some members interpreted it as a sign of the growing prominence of one family within the party structure.The early signs of dissentThe first public signs of dissent emerged on May 19. During a meeting of legislators, Ritabrata Banerjee and Entally MLA Sandipan Saha questioned why Falta MLA Jahangir Khan had not faced disciplinary action despite publicly withdrawing from the repoll campaign. Given Khan’s perceived proximity to Abhishek, the criticism was widely viewed as a challenge to the party leadership.Row timelineSenior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also raised similar concerns at the time, though he later distanced himself from the rebel camp.The turning point A turning point came on May 22 when Ritabrata Banerjee, in Delhi to complete formalities related to the end of his Rajya Sabha tenure, visited Banga Bhavan and unexpectedly met chief minister Suvendu Adhikari. After the meeting, Ritabrata publicly praised Adhikari’s decision to invite opposition legislators and MPs to administrative review meetings, triggering intense political speculation.The crisis deepened on May 25 when allegations surfaced that the signatures of several MLAs had been forged on documents submitted to the Speaker regarding the leadership of the legislature party.Two days later, Ritabrata and Sandipan lodged a formal complaint with the Speaker. The Assembly secretariat subsequently approached the police, prompting a CID investigation.As legislators were questioned over the following days, the controversy rapidly evolved into a broader political confrontation. What began as a dispute over signatures became a rallying point for dissatisfied lawmakers and sparked intense lobbying behind the scenes.Bhaipo under mob attackTensions escalated further on May 30 after Abhishek Banerjee came under attack by a mob during a visit to Sonarpur. While party leaders publicly condemned the incident, several TMC figures privately viewed the muted response from sections of the organisation as evidence of growing estrangement between the leadership and some legislators.By the next day, the extent of the challenge confronting the leadership had become apparent. 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With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Alleges TMC MLA Linked To Land Grab, Compensation Fraud And Illegal Construction; Seeks ED ProbeBihar Hospital Fire Claims Four Lives; CM Announces Rs 4 Lakh AidViral Marriage Proposal By Army Captain Draws Scrutiny Over Military ProtocolPermission Pending As CJP Mobilises Supporters For June 6 Jantar Mantar ProtestDelhi Government Orders Crackdown After Fatal Hotel Fire In Malviya NagarIndia’s Naval Power Grows With Induction Of Five Indigenous WarshipsBoost For Air Defence: 4th S-400 Squadron ‘Starts Arriving In India From Russia’Pakistan Embarrassed In Japan As ‘Illegal’ Mosque Inaugurated In Presence Of Envoy Faces DemolitionVijay’s TVK Offers Rajya Sabha Seat To Congress Ahead Of June 18 PollFinal 1% Left To Resolve In India-US Trade Deal: US Envoy Sergio Gor123PhotostoriesThis is the world’s shortest commercial flight and why it’s a bucket-list travel experiencesForget Idli: Try these other steamed South Indian dishes for summer breakfast10 premium feature wall designs for a high-end residential lookFox, bear, wolf, or lion? 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