The Government will not allow any tariff concessions on sugar imports under any trade deal.
Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, clarified that key agricultural commodities such as rice, wheat, maize, soy meal and several varieties of pulses have been protected in trade negotiations. In the sugar sector, concessions have generally not been extended to prevent imports that could adversely affect India’s sugarcane farmers and domestic producers.
Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of the 40th edition of AAHAR – The International Food & Hospitality Fair, the Minister said that India’s exports of food and agricultural products—including farm produce and fisheries—have reached nearly ₹5 lakh crore (over USD 55 billion) annually, making the country the seventh largest exporter of agricultural produce in the world.
He noted that over the past eleven years, from 2014 to 2025, India’s agri and food exports have witnessed significant growth. Exports of processed foods have increased fourfold, fruit and pulses exports have tripled, processed vegetable exports have quadrupled, cocoa exports have tripled, and cereal exports have doubled. Rice exports alone have grown by 62% during this period.
He said these achievements should inspire India to aspire for the top position globally in agricultural and processed food exports. He emphasised that the goal is achievable and aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that India should become the “food basket of the world.”
The Minister highlighted that the nine Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) concluded by India over the past three and a half years have opened access to 38 developed and prosperous countries, providing vast market opportunities for Indian exporters. He added that India today has preferential market access covering nearly two-thirds of global trade, which strengthens India’s position as an attractive investment destination and enables Indian businesses to integrate into global value chains.
Goyal emphasised that while negotiating FTAs, the Government has carefully safeguarded the interests of domestic stakeholders, particularly farmers, fishermen and MSMEs. He said India has protected sensitive sectors such as dairy, where no concessions have been given to foreign producers. Similarly, genetically modified (GM) products have not been granted duty concessions or market access.
The Minister said these measures ensure that India’s domestic strengths remain protected while new global opportunities are created for Indian products. He urged stakeholders connected with industry and the business community to spread awareness at the grassroots level about how India’s FTAs safeguard national interests while expanding international trade opportunities.
The Minister pointed out that Europe represents a major market for agricultural and processed food imports, especially with new trade arrangements that provide near-zero or very low duties on many Indian products. He also referred to opportunities arising from India’s agreements and partnerships with EFTA countries—Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland—New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, ASEAN nations, Oman, the UAE and Mauritius. He added that negotiations with Canada are progressing and discussions with the six-nation GCC group of countries in the Middle East have recently been launched.
