U.S. Senators Steve Daines of Montana and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota have called on President Trump to prioritize the interests of American pulse crop farmers in upcoming trade negotiations with India. In a letter sent to the president, the senators emphasized the importance of securing favorable terms for pulse crops, such as peas, given Montana’s leading role in U.S. production and India’s status as the largest global consumer.
“Thank you for your efforts to secure a favorable economic environment for North Dakota and Montana agricultural producers. As trade negotiations progress, we encourage you to push for favorable pulse crop provisions in any agreement the United States signs with the Republic of India…
…North Dakota and Montana are the top two producers of pulse crops, including peas, and India is the world’s largest consumer of these crops, contributing to approximately 27% of the world’s consumption…
… India announced on October 30, 2025, it would impose a 30% tariff on yellow peas. The higher duty went into effect on November 1, 2025. As a result of the unfair Indian tariffs, U.S. pulse crop producers face a significant competitive disadvantage when exporting their high-quality product to India…
…In your first term, we wrote to you on this issue, and you hand-delivered our letter to Prime Minister Modi during the 2020 trade negotiations with India, which helped bring our producers to the table…
… Engaging Prime Minister Modi on pulse crop tariffs to enhance the economic cooperation between our countries would be mutually beneficial to both American producers and Indian customers,” they wrote in the letter.
The senators referenced an earlier effort from 2020 when President Trump delivered their concerns directly to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during previous trade talks.
Senator Daines represents Montana in the Senate where he participates in committees related to finance, foreign policy, and natural resources. He supports constituents throughout Montana from several office locations and assists with federal issues. More information about Senator Daines’ background—including his experience in chemical engineering and private sector roles—can be found at his official website.
