Trump Says “India Should Not Be Dumping Rice,” Hints at Another Tariff on India as Farmers Complain About Cheap Rice Imports

Key Points:

President Donald Trump has announced that a potential new tariff on Indian rice is possible to address the growing concern over “cheap foreign goods,” which are negatively affecting U.S. farmers and their livelihoods. He hinted at providing additional support to American farmers during a White House event on December 8, 2025, after complaints that foreign imports are “driving down” domestic prices.

During the White House meeting, the President also announced a $12 billion aid package for U.S. farmers. He said the government will follow up on complaints that some countries are selling rice and other products at very low prices.

Meryl Kennedy, CEO of Kennedy Rice Mill in Louisiana, shared her concerns with the President. She said that countries like India, Thailand, and China are selling rice at cheap prices in the U.S. market. She also mentioned that China is sending rice to Puerto Rico, and that farmers in the southern United States are struggling because of this. “We haven’t shipped rice to Puerto Rico in years,” she added.

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Kennedy pointed out that the tariff measures are helping to some extent, but added, “we need to double down,” during the White House roundtable. Trump responded by asking, “You want more?” referring to the already high tariffs placed on countries including India.

Earlier this year, the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods due to India purchasing oil and weapons from Russia. These tariffs are among the highest in the world. The 50% tariff was later followed by an additional 25% penalty on India’s trade with Russia, which the U.S. claims helps fund the Russia-Ukraine war.

At the roundtable, Trump assured the farmers that he would investigate the issue. He then asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to note down the names of the countries accused of “dumping rice” into the U.S. market. “Give me the countries, if you could. Go ahead. India — who else? Mark it down, Scott,” he said.

See Also: India’s Exports to U.S. Slide 28.5% in Five Months as Tariffs Hit Labour-Intensive Sectors Hardest

This sudden threat of new tariffs raises the question of whether trade talks between the U.S. and New Delhi are once again at risk. The President also hinted that he might impose new tariffs on fertilizers imported from Canada to boost U.S. production. He said, “A lot of it does come in from Canada, and so we'll end up putting very severe tariffs on that, if we have to, because that's the way you want to bolster here.”

In October 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with the President to discuss a potential trade deal between the two countries.

A U.S. delegation will visit India from December 10–12 to continue discussions on a trade agreement focused on tariffs. Reports indicate that the U.S. team will be led by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Rick Switzer, while Joint Secretary Darpan Jain from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will represent India.

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