By Pratik Parija and Shruti Srivastava, BloombergLast Updated: Jul 03, 2025, 05:32:00 PM IST

are set to kick in. Earlier this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the countries were “very close” to an agreement.

India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment for this story.

The world’s most populous country is opposed to imports of GM corn and soybeans, and does not permit local farmers to grow them for food. With a vast agricultural sector, and farmers representing a key voting bloc, India retains a cautious stance toward shipments that could compete with local production, reflecting concerns over rural livelihoods and food security.

At present, the government doesn’t allow cultivation GM food crops, even though varieties can aid yields. The commercial release of GM mustard has been stalled due to a legal challenge in the country’s top court, and in 2010, the government rejected a GM variety of brinjal, or eggplant.Still, India already meets about 60% of vegetable-oil demand through imports, including soy and canola oils from GM crops. The country is also the second-largest cotton grower, with more than 90% of that crop genetically modified.