US May Impose Fresh Tariffs on Indian Rice as Trump Targets Imports:

During the meeting, Trump said he had been told that falling rice prices in the US were hurting domestic producers. According to him, American farmers were struggling because foreign suppliers were selling rice in the US at unfairly low prices. Trump said he learned about the issue from Meryl Kennedy, founder and CEO of Kennedy Rice Mills and 4 Sisters Rice, who has been vocal about the pressure caused by cheaper imported rice. Trump said he had been given a list of countries accused of dumping rice into the American market. The list included India, Thailand, and even China. Questioning why the US was allowing this, Trump turned to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and asked whether India had any tariff exemption on rice. “No, sir, we are still working on their trade deal…” Bessent began to explain, before Trump cut in, saying, “Yeah, but they shouldn’t be dumping. I mean, I heard that from others too. You can’t do that.” Trump said he would “take care” of what he called the unfair dumping of Indian rice, suggesting that tariff measures may be considered soon. His comments add tension to ongoing trade discussions between Washington and New Delhi. Earlier this year, Trump had already imposed 50% tariffs on several Indian goods, claiming India was maintaining high trade barriers and expanding energy purchases from rival nations. A US delegation is expected to visit India this week for more negotiations, though experts do not expect any major breakthroughs. Trump Also Hints at Tariffs on Canadian Fertilizer In the same meeting, Trump also raised concerns about fertilizer imports from Canada. He suggested that the US might introduce “very severe tariffs” on Canadian fertilizer to encourage more local production. “A lot of it does come in from Canada, and so we’ll end up putting very severe tariffs on that, if we have to,” Trump said. He added that increasing domestic manufacturing would help American farmers and reduce dependency on foreign supplies. “We can do it here. We can all do that here,” he insisted. These statements come at a time when US farmers are facing significant challenges. Rising input costs, inflation, and market uncertainty have made farming more expensive. Many farmers—who form a key part of Trump’s political base—have been pressuring the administration to protect them from cheaper foreign imports. Trade Talks Facing Challenges Trade relations with both India and Canada have been complicated in recent months. Negotiations aimed at stabilizing ties have not progressed smoothly. Trump’s earlier tariff decisions created friction, and diplomats say discussions have been “difficult.” Trump has previously criticized Canada over several trade issues, even suggesting revisiting parts of the North American Free Trade Agreement. His recent comments about fertilizer tariffs again raise concerns about potential tensions between Washington and Ottawa. For now, Trump has not announced any formal tariff action on rice or fertilizer. However, his strong remarks suggest that new trade measures may be under consideration. Both India and Canada are expected to closely watch Washington’s next moves, as any new tariffs could affect millions of dollars’ worth of trade and further complicate international relations.

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