US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has renewed his criticism of India’s trade policies, highlighting the country’s refusal to import American corn. In an interview with Axios, Lutnick questioned why India, with a population of 1.4 billion, will not buy even a single bushel of US corn despite exporting extensively to the US.
India, a self-sufficient corn producer and the fifth-largest globally, primarily grows corn on small farms. The country has consistently rejected genetically modified (GM) corn imports, citing farmer protection and food safety concerns. Lutnick also claimed that India’s tariffs create an uneven trade relationship, asserting that Washington seeks “fair and reciprocal trade.”
While the US eyes India’s growing corn consumption—expected to rise to 98 million tonnes by 2040—India maintains that GM corn, even for feedstock or ethanol, could threaten smallholders and disrupt domestic agriculture. The trade standoff persists despite US efforts to expand exports, with China’s reduced corn imports intensifying Washington’s interest in India.