After years of negotiations, India is now open to U.S. pork and pork products, removing a longstanding barrier to U.S. agricultural trade.
This news follows the successful revitalization of the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum held in New Delhi in November 2021, during which U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai raised the importance of access for U.S. pork with Indian Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal.
“This new opportunity marks the culmination of nearly two decades of work to gain market access for U.S. pork to India, and it signals positive movement in U.S.-India trade relations,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said. “We will continue working with the Indian government to ensure that the U.S. pork industry can begin shipping its high-quality products to consumers as soon as possible.”
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has been calling on India to lift its de facto ban on U.S. pork and accept the veterinary export certificate proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“After decades of work, a market that had been closed to U.S. pork is being opened,” Jen Sorenson, NPPC’s president, said. “We look forward to the new access, which will allow us to provide affordable, wholesome and nutritious U.S. pork products to consumers in India.”
In 2020, the United States was the world’s third-largest pork producer and second-largest exporter, with global sales of pork and pork products valued at $7.7 billion.
In fiscal year 2021, the United States exported more than $1.6 billion of agricultural products to India.
“India’s agreement to allow U.S. pork imports for the first time is great news and a significant development for U.S. producers and for Indian consumers,” Tai said. “We will continue working to strengthen the U.S.-India trade relationship and I appreciate Minister Goyal’s efforts to facilitate this important development.”
More details on requirements for exporting to India are available from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Export Library.