Schmidt Backs Effort to Open India Market to Kansas Farm Exports
WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) today announced he has joined Congressmen Adrian Smith (NE-03) and Randy Feenstra (IA-04) in encouraging United States Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer to prioritize gaining improved market access for American agricultural exports – specifically U.S. ethanol, distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and soybean meal (SBM) – in India.
Last month, Congressman Schmidt joined fellow Kansas Representative Tracey Mann and several of their colleagues in encouraging Ambassador Greer to increase Kansas sorghum producers’ access to the Indian market. India has surpassed China as the world’s most populous country. Growing access to the Indian market could provide a long-term counterweight to persistent trade tensions with China.
In 2024, Kansas exported more than $14 billion of goods across various industries. As of 2022, Kansas exports support an estimated 66,000 jobs in the state.
In part, the lawmakers wrote:
India has publicly expressed its willingness to proceed in high-volume agricultural trade negotiations with the U.S., increasing demand for American farmers. The long-term demand opportunity for DDGS alone could be two million metric tons per year valued at $500 million, which would turn into the second largest export market (behind Mexico). For ethanol, India is already our 3rd largest export destination at 170 million gallons valued at $393 million, however further reducing existing market barriers would allow for over $400 million of additional exports. We are encouraged that the United States and India have been making rapid progress so far in negotiations on reciprocal trade, and are hopeful that farmers throughout the United States can benefit from results in the near future related to exports to India of DDGS and SBM, which comply with its strict non-GMO import restrictions…
President Trump’s America First agenda includes increasing exports of U.S. agriculture products to reduce the trade deficit. Each year, American farmers continue to increase yield per acre with fewer inputs. Since 2010, corn and soybean production have increased by 20 percent and 31 percent, respectively. Unfortunately, commodity prices have dropped by over 30 percent in the past three years, intensifying the need to expand export markets to keep up with increasing supplies. We believe U.S. Ethanol, DDGS, and SBM exports to India represents an easy win for American farmers and will be a terrific way to begin addressing the federal trade deficit through mutually beneficial trade with India.
The lawmakers’ effort is supported by multiple agricultural groups, including the National Corn Growers Association and American Soybean Association.
The full letter can be found here.
Joining Representatives Schmidt, Smith, and Feenstra are Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01), Ron Estes (KS-04), Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Tony Wied (WI-08), Don Bacon (NE-02), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Mike Flood (NE-01), Mike Carey (OH-15), Darin LaHood (IL-16), Max Miller (OH-07), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Brad Finstad (MN-01), and Mark Messmer (IN-08).
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