Trump Signals Possible New Tariffs on Indian Rice, Says U.S. Farmers Hurt by “Dumping”
US President Donald Trump on Monday said he is considering imposing additional tariffs on rice imported from India, alleging that the country is “dumping” the commodity into the American market and hurting domestic farmers.
Trump made the remarks during a meeting at the White House, where he announced $12 billion in fresh support for American farmers struggling with rising costs and volatile markets. The President said he was alerted to the issue of falling rice prices by Meryl Kennedy, CEO of Kennedy Rice Mills and 4 Sisters Rice.
According to Trump, a list provided to him identified India, Thailand, and China as countries allegedly “dumping rice” into the US.
“Tell me about India. Why is India allowed to do that? They have to pay tariffs — do they have an exemption on rice?” Trump asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during the meeting.
Bessent responded that the US is still negotiating a broader trade deal with India, but Trump cut in:
“Yeah, but they shouldn’t be dumping. I heard that from others too. You can’t do that.”
Trump assured attendees that he would “take care” of the rice dumping issue, hinting at the possibility of new tariffs.
Tariffs on Canadian Fertiliser Also Under Consideration
In the same meeting, Trump also signaled that his administration may target fertiliser imports from Canada with punitive tariffs to boost U.S. production.
“A lot of it comes in from Canada,” Trump said. “We’ll end up putting very severe tariffs on that, if we have to… And we can do it here.”
The comments reflect ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector, including higher production costs, inflationary pressures, and trade volatility — issues that have particularly affected Trump’s core base of farmers.
Trade Tensions with India and Canada Continue
Trade talks with both India and Canada have faced setbacks in recent months. Earlier this year, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on several Indian goods, citing unresolved trade barriers and energy-related concerns. A US delegation is expected to visit India this week to continue discussions, though officials do not expect major progress.
Relations with Canada have also been strained, with Trump previously threatening higher tariffs on products outside North American Free Trade Agreement coverage. Recently, he has hinted at a review — and possibly a renegotiation — of NAFTA itself.
As Trump seeks to reinforce American manufacturing and agriculture ahead of the 2026 elections, trade measures targeting key partners like India and Canada are likely to play a central role in his economic strategy.
Comments are closed.