Congressman Rick W. Allen of Georgia has taken the lead in an initiative aimed at enhancing market access for U.S. pecan producers in India. He is joined by a bipartisan group of colleagues from Georgia, including Representatives Sanford Bishop, Buddy Carter, Lucy McBath, Austin Scott, Rich McCormick, and David Scott, as well as Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.
The group has sent a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins urging prompt action to improve trade conditions. They highlighted that India is a key market for U.S. pecans, with exports exceeding $1.3 million in 2022 and potential growth up to $5 million annually following India’s decision to reduce tariffs on these products by 70 percent.
The letter notes that while shelled pecans are currently being exported successfully, Indian buyers have expressed interest in importing in-shell pecans for better shelf stability and processing flexibility upon arrival. However, the absence of an appropriate plant quarantine code (PQ code) has hindered these shipments.
In their correspondence, the members emphasized that “in 2024, the U.S. pecan industry submitted documents to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to begin the process of obtaining a PQ code” and requested expedited assistance from USDA.
For further details on the full letter addressed to Secretary Rollins, additional resources are available online.
