WASHINGTON, D.C. — US Senator Steve Daines traveled to India this month to press for improved market access for Montana’s pulse crops and to emphasize the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi, according to a statement from his office.
Daines, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited India from January 17 to 19, holding meetings with senior government officials, members of parliament, and business leaders in New Delhi. His engagements included discussions with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
“I came to India to reaffirm our two countries’ shared values and strategic partnership and to advocate on behalf of Montana’s pulse crop farmers,” Daines said. “I appreciated Minister Goyal for listening to our farmers’ concerns and will continue to work with President Trump to press this important priority.”
According to the statement, the visit focused on trade, defense cooperation, and supply chain security. Daines discussed expanding US-India defense ties and highlighted the partnership’s role in maintaining stability and openness in the Indo-Pacific region.
Trade emerged as a central theme during the meetings, with Daines urging Indian officials to ensure favorable treatment for US pulse crops in any future bilateral trade agreement. Montana is the largest producer of pulse crops in the United States, while India is the world’s biggest consumer of such crops, including lentils, peas, and chickpeas.
Daines also called for faster progress in ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries, seeking movement toward what he described as a fair and reciprocal bilateral trade deal. His office said the senator was advancing the interests of both the Trump administration and Montana constituents during the visit.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the trip underscored the importance of sustained high-level engagement between the two nations.
“As we work to take the partnership between our two nations to the next level in cooperation, I will ensure that senior government officials will regularly travel to India,” Gor said, adding that Daines’ meetings were instrumental in advancing the bilateral relationship.
The discussions also covered efforts to strengthen supply chains and deepen cooperation in key sectors, the statement said. It noted that Daines had sent a letter to President Trump last week emphasizing the need for favorable treatment of pulse crops in future trade agreements.
The visit comes as the United States and India continue to expand ties across defense, technology, and trade, even as both sides navigate differences over market access and tariffs. Agriculture has long been a sensitive issue in US-India trade talks, with each country seeking greater access while protecting domestic producers. (Source: IANS)
