NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Dec 9: US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized India for “dumping” rice into the US market and vowed to “take care of it,” emphasizing that tariffs can quickly resolve the issue.
Speaking at a White House roundtable with agriculture officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Trump announced USD 12 billion in federal aid for American farmers.
Meryl Kennedy, who runs Kennedy Rice Mill in Louisiana, told Trump that rice producers in the southern US are struggling due to rice imports from India, Thailand, and China (into Puerto Rico).
She added that while tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have helped, stronger measures are necessary.
Trump stressed that India should not be allowed to dump rice and instructed officials to track the countries involved, stating that tariffs could resolve the problem “in one day.”
He compared the situation to past losses in the US car and chip industries caused by foreign imports and highlighted a pending Supreme Court case on the legality of his emergency tariff powers.
India is the world’s largest rice producer and exporter, accounting for 28% of global production and over 30% of exports, though shipments to the US represented less than 5% of total exports in 2024.
India currently faces a 50% US tariff, including a 25% levy on Russian oil imports.
Indian Rice Exporters Federation President Prem Garg called the tariff a temporary hurdle, emphasizing that strategic planning, diversification, and flexibility would allow Indian exporters to maintain and even expand their presence in the US market despite the trade barriers.
Trump concluded that resolving the rice issue is “so easy” and promised swift action to protect American farmers. (AP)
