NCGA Calls for Corn to be Included in Bilateral Trade Agreement with India

NCGA Calls for Corn to be Included in Bilateral Trade Agreement with India

May 8, 2025-This week, the National Corn Growers Association, Kansas Corn and other state corn organizations showed support of President Trump's effort to forge a new trade relationship with India. They also urged the administration to include corn and co-products, such as ethanol and its coproduct DDGS feed, in any final agreement. Corn growers have been proactively working to build trade ties with India for several years.

NCGA farmer leaders and staff held an online press conference on Thursday to release data highlighting the potential value in trade with India for our nation's corn growers and benefits for rural America.

"India's population size and growing middle class represents an amazing opportunity for Kansas agriculture," says Josh Roe, Kansas Corn CEO. "There is outstanding potential for growth in red meat exports, livestock feed exports and ethanol. India's energy policy is very pro-ethanol, with intentions to move the country to a 20 percent ethanol blend base fuel."

The Trump administration has made India the initial focus of its efforts to open new markets for U.S. exports. During a CNN interview in early April, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called on India to open opportunities for U.S. corn.

U.S. trade with India could be improved by eliminating restrictions on genetically modified corn, as well as reducing technical restrictions that limit ethanol exports and prevent market access for the ethanol coproduct DDGS feed (distillers dried grains with solubles) Addressing these barriers would benefit American farmers and the Indian economy.

Removing restrictions on genetically modified corn, it could open the door to $235 million worth of U.S. exports to India each year, according to data released by NCGA. If the U.S. were able to supply India's sustainable aviation fuel market, it would represent $434 million opportunity for U.S. corn farmers in the first year of the relationship. India would also stand to benefit from this arrangement, with greater access to high quality feed and an affordable and more environmentally friendly renewable energy source.

"India is already a top three market for U.S. ethanol exports, despite only being used for industrial purposes and not in fuel," Roe said. "India's growing livestock industry is the perfect partner for U.S. DDGS, and talks are continuing to allow for additional whole corn imports from the U.S."

The Trump administration has said it expects to have a framework agreement in place over the next 90 days, and NCGA and KCGA leaders at NCGA say they are hopeful that the president and his administration can make progress with India that will benefit rural America.

India's Potential Market Impact

While the corn growers association works to develop beneficial trade policy, the Kansas Corn Commission invests checkoff dollars to facilitate and build trade opportunities with other countries.

Kansas Corn's Strong History with Trade Relations in India

In 2023, Kansas Corn celebrated the opening of a U.S. Grains Council South Asia office in India. The expansion of the new full-time office in this key growing market was made possible through grant funding from the Kansas Corn Commission. Fast forward two years later, and this office along with the relationship-building opportunities it holds, will be influential with the trade discussions between our two countries.

"This is why we support the U.S. Grains Council with checkoff dollars, and volunteer leader and staff time," says Connie Fischer, Kansas Corn director of innovation and commercialization. "The staff at USGC is on the ground working to remove trade barriers and build relationships with potential buyers so that when the policy comes along we are ready to take advantage and move our high-quality corn and co-products where they are wanted."

India is a top customer of U.S. ethanol for industrial use and their livestock feed industry continues to grow in demand for DDGS. As the local ethanol production grows in India, the demand for high-quality U.S. corn grows with it.

U.S. grains, co-products and ethanol are sold to buyers in more than 75 countries. Learn more about how USGC fosters these relationships and builds new markets overseas here.

Learn how trade benefits Kansas corn growers here.