US lifts reciprocal tariffs on tea, coffee, spices, among others:India supplies just $548 mn of these now-exempt goods — here’s the full list

The US has excluded several agricultural products from the reciprocal tariffs imposed earlier this year, restoring them to standard most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty rates. The changes follow a White House Executive Order issued on November 12, with the exemptions coming into effect on Nov 13. However, it remains unclear whether Indian exporters will be exempted from the earlier announced 25% reciprocal tariffs or the full 50% rate. The order removes coffee, tea, tropical fruits, fruit juices, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, beef and select fertilisers from the April 2 retaliatory tariff regime. These items were exempted because the US either does not produce them in adequate quantities or lacks the climatic conditions required to grow them. Despite the removal of higher duties, India has only a modest foothold in this segment. According to the data from the US Department of Commerce, in 2024, American global imports included coffee ($9.0 billion), tropical fruits and avocados ($6.1 billion), fresh fruits ($6.3 billion), tomatoes ($3.8 billion), bananas ($3.2 billion), and fruit juices ($4.3 billion). This reflects a narrow export presence dominated by a few high-performing categories. US demand for these farm products is concentrated in a handful of large import lines. India has virtually no presence in several of the largest exempted product categories, including tomatoes, citrus fruits, melons, bananas, most fresh fruits and fruit juices. Experts say the shift in US tariff policy may offer marginal gains for India in spices and select horticulture products. The broader benefits, they say, will likely accrue to major Latin American, African and ASEAN farm exporters unless India expands production scale, strengthens cold-chain infrastructure and diversifies its agricultural export base.
India’s October Trade Data Brings Relief amid US Tariff Pressures India’s exports to the US rose to $6.3 billion in October 2025, a 14.5% increase from September and the first month-on-month uptick since May, according to GTRI. This rebound comes despite the 50% tariff imposed by Washington. However, October exports were still 8.6% lower than the $6.9 billion recorded in October 2024. Despite the October rise, India’s exports to the U.S. have fallen 28.4% between May and October, wiping out more than $2.5 billion in monthly export value. October marked the second full month under the 50% tariff. Exports last grew in May at $8.8 billion before sliding steadily: • June: down 5.7% to $8.3 billion • July: down 3.6% to $8.0 billion • August: down 13.8% to $6.9 billion • September: down 20.3% • October then posted a partial recovery.