U.S. senator concludes visit to India to persuade leaders to include ‘favourable’ pulse provisions in future FTA

Overview On January 20, 2026 , U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor stated his commitment to ensuring regular visits of senior U.S. government officials to India. This announcement coincided with U.S. Senator Steve Daines' two-day visit, focused on advocating for favorable pulse crop provisions in a future trade agreement between the United States and India. The discussions highlight the ongoing negotiations and strategic importance of the U.S.-India bilateral relationship. Key Developments U.S. Ambassador's Commitment: Sergio Gor pledged to facilitate regular visits of senior U.S. officials to India. Senator Daines' Visit: Steve Daines visited India to advocate for Montana's pulse crop farmers and push for favorable trade terms. Meetings with Indian Officials: Daines met with Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal . Trade Deal Discussions: The visit aimed to persuade India to include “favourable” pulse crop provisions in a future trade deal. Indian Concerns: India has historically resisted including sensitive agricultural products in free trade agreements. U.S. Objectives The U.S. embassy in New Delhi stated that Senator Daines “pursued interests of the Trump Administration as well as the people of Montana , including urging favourable pulse crop provisions in any future trade agreements between the United States and India”. This highlights the dual objectives of promoting national trade interests and addressing specific regional economic concerns. India's Position Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has confirmed that sensitive agricultural issues would be excluded from the upcoming India-EU free trade agreement . While India acknowledges the need for concessions with larger economies like the U.S., agriculture and dairy remain “big red lines,” as stated by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in June 2025 . Bilateral Discussions and Strategic Partnership Following his meeting with Senator Daines , Minister Goyal noted a “productive exchange of views on our bilateral relationship” on X. The discussions also covered growing U.S.-India defense cooperation , mutual efforts to secure supply chains, and the importance of the U.S.-India strategic partnership in ensuring shared security and “preserving a stable and open Indo-Pacific region ”. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to GS2 (International Relations) and GS3 (Economy and Agriculture) . It highlights the complexities of international trade negotiations, the strategic importance of the U.S.-India relationship, and India's concerns regarding agricultural imports. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for UPSC aspirants. Important Facts U.S. Ambassador: Sergio Gor U.S. Senator: Steve Daines Key Indian Ministers: S. Jaishankar , Piyush Goyal Sensitive Sectors: Agriculture and Dairy Strategic Focus: Indo-Pacific Region, Supply Chains, Defense Cooperation

U.S. senator concludes visit to India to persuade leaders to include ‘favourable’ pulse provisions in future FTA

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U.S. senator concludes visit to India to persuade leaders to include ‘favourable’ pulse provisions in future FTA

U.S. senator concludes visit to India to persuade leaders to include ‘favourable’ pulse provisions in future FTA

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