California Exporters to Benefit from India’s Tariff Reduction on Pistachios
April 7, 2011Diana Fonovich is the India Desk Officer for Market Access and Compliance within the International Trade Administration
California’s pistachio industry will benefit from the significant reduction in India’s customs tariff for imported pistachios that was implemented in India’s April 2011 – March 2012 fiscal year budget. After sustained advocacy by the International Trade Administration (ITA), in concert with efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India lowered its tariff on imported pistachios from 30 percent to 10 percent.
“Through this tariff reduction, we celebrate a win for the United States, a win for our global partner, India, and a win for American agriculture,” said Stewart Resnick, president of California-based Paramount Farms International (PFI), a major grower and processor of pistachios. “We’re looking forward to increased sales and consumption of healthy pistachios, both in India and around the globe.”
India’s tariff reduction for pistachios also benefits the 4,000 employees of PFI and its grower partners and, through the prospective increase in U.S. exports to India, will contribute toward achieving the goal under the President’s National Export Initiative of doubling U.S. exports in five years.
Tariff reduction advocacy is just one way that ITA and its Market Access and Compliance unit helps U.S. companies expand their exports. In the past year, ITA has successfully advocated for Indian tariff reductions in medical technology, solar power plant equipment, and certain chemicals.
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