US Senator Steve Daines has urged India to provide improved market access for Montana’s pulse crops during a recent visit to New Delhi, highlighting agriculture as a key issue within the broader US–India strategic partnership. Daines, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, travelled to India from January 17 to 19 to engage with senior Indian officials, parliamentarians, and business leaders.

According to a statement from his office, the visit focused on trade, defence cooperation, and supply chain security, with particular emphasis on ensuring favourable treatment for US pulse crops in future bilateral trade agreements. Montana is the largest producer of pulse crops in the United States, while India remains the world’s biggest consumer of pulses such as lentils, peas, and chickpeas, making agricultural trade a strategically important area for both sides.

During his visit, Senator Daines held meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. He used these interactions to advocate for the concerns of Montana farmers, calling for reduced barriers and more predictable market access for US agricultural exports to India.

“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. He added that he appreciated Minister Goyal’s willingness to listen to the concerns raised by American farmers and pledged to continue working with President Donald Trump to advance this priority.

Trade emerged as a central theme in the discussions. Daines pressed Indian officials to ensure that US pulse crops receive favourable consideration in any future trade agreement between Washington and New Delhi. His office noted that he also encouraged faster progress in ongoing trade negotiations, stressing the importance of a fair and reciprocal bilateral trade framework.

Beyond agriculture, the senator discussed the expanding scope of US–India defence cooperation and the role of the partnership in maintaining a stable, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. Supply chain resilience was another key topic, reflecting shared concerns over global disruptions and the need for closer coordination in critical sectors.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the visit as a demonstration of the importance of sustained high-level engagement between the two democracies. He said regular visits by senior US officials would be essential as both countries work to elevate cooperation across defence, trade, and technology. Gor added that Daines’ meetings contributed meaningfully to advancing bilateral ties.

The statement also revealed that Senator Daines recently wrote to President Trump, urging that pulse crops be treated favourably in future trade agreements. Agriculture has long been one of the most sensitive areas in US–India trade negotiations, with both sides balancing the push for greater market access against the need to protect domestic producers.

The visit comes at a time when the United States and India are deepening cooperation across multiple sectors, even as differences remain over tariffs, agricultural access, and regulatory frameworks. Observers note that how both sides address these issues will shape the next phase of the US–India economic partnership.