Trump's Trade Deal: What India Gains and Loses in Agriculture

Policy expert G Chandrashekhar decodes the Indo-US agricultural trade framework announced in February 2026. From tariff eliminations on soybean oil and dry fruits to the contentious DDGS debate, Chandra explains what's real, what's noise, and why India's $45 billion trade surplus with the US is driving Trump's push for a deal.

Key Discussion Points:

• Why there's no actual deal yet, just a framework
• India's import patterns for cotton, soybean oil, pulses and tree nuts
• GM crops, BT cotton and India's 22-year consumption reality
• Why agricultural universities and FPOs must work together
• DDGS and the poultry feed controversy

G Chandrashekhar is a leading policy expert on agricultural trade, consulted by policymakers and regulators. He was part of India's 1998 delegation that studied BT cotton technology in the United States.