India extends tariff waiver on lentils to spring 2025
Published by Oliver Kleinschmidt,
Editorial Assistant
Dry Bulk,
India has extended its tariff-free period for lentils by 12 months to the 31 March 2025 in a move which has been welcomed by the Australian pulse industry, one of India's largest lentil trading partners.
Grains Australia has welcomed the recent extension of tariff-free access for lentil exports to India, which also imports from other countries such as Canada.
According to a statement from Grains Australia, the Indian Government was advised to implement the extension via a notification dated 21 December 2023, and Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry was formally notified of the extension through Australia’s Agriculture Counsellor in New Delhi.
Grains Australia Pulse Council chair Peter Wilson stated that the zero-tariff extension represented a great opportunity for Australian producers both now and for the 2024 growing season.
“It provides instructive market signals for Australian lentil growers, who can plan with greater confidence their cropping programs for 2024,” Mr Wilson said.
Grains Australia's general manager for trade and market access John Ackerman also welcomed the news, stating: “India is a historically valuable market for Australian lentils and other grains, and Grains Australia continues to work collaboratively with industry to strengthen ties with this important trading partner."
Under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, tariffs on lentils had previously received a 50% reduction of the most-favoured nation (MFN) tariff at 30pc within an annual quota of 150 000 t.
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, Australia exported a record 1.75 million t of lentils in 2023, with India the destination for 821 479 t.
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