India has drawn a firm red line in ongoing trade discussions with the United States, refusing to open its market to American dairy products due to concerns over animal feed practices. The core issue lies in the use of animal-derived feed ingredients in the US dairy sector, which conflicts with India’s religious sentiments and regulatory norms prioritizing vegetarian feed sources. Despite pressure to ease market access for US dairy as part of a broader trade agreement, Indian authorities have maintained this non-negotiable stance.
This long-standing disagreement has been a recurring hurdle in India-US trade negotiations. India’s dairy sector, heavily dominated by cooperatives and smallholder farmers, relies on strict feed regulations rooted in cultural and ethical practices. Accepting US dairy products raised on animal-based feeds would not only risk violating domestic norms but could disrupt India’s socio-economic fabric, given the dairy sector’s critical role in rural livelihoods.
Industry Insight:
India’s position highlights the importance of aligning global trade deals with domestic socio-cultural values. For Indian dairy entrepreneurs and cooperatives, this reaffirms the government’s commitment to safeguarding farmer-centric, ethical dairy practices amidst globalization pressures.
Source : Dairynews7x7 April 22nd 2025 Money control