Rice exporters welcome US tariff cut to 18% FROM 25%

India’s rice exporters on Tuesday welcomed Washington’s decision to reduce tariffs to 18 per cent from 25 per cent, saying the cut would boost competitiveness and demand in key markets as the country heads toward record production. The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) called the move positive at a time when India is anticipating record production of 149 million tonnes in the 2025-26 crop year (July-June) with strong availability and resilient domestic fundamentals. “Indian agri products continue to hold an indispensable position in global supply chains, and recent shipment patterns suggest clear demand resilience even under sharply higher duties,” the federation said in a statement.