On February 1, India announced it would dramatically reduce its tariff on pecans by 70 percent

Senator Reverend Warnock has been leading the bipartisan push to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to negotiate with the Indian government for lower tariff rates that will benefit Georgia pecan growers and shellers

Georgia is the leading pecan-producing state, accounting for about one-third of total U.S. production. High tariffs imposed by India have severely limited Georgia pecan exports

A member of the Senate Agriculture committee, Senator Reverend Warnock has a track record of advocating to expand market opportunities and increase profitability for Georgia pecan growers and shellers

Warnock: “I’m thrilled to see months of advocacy on behalf of Georgia pecan growers and shellers pay off”

ICYMI from Agri-Pulse, August 2022: “Eight senators led by Georgia Democrat Raphael Warnock are pushing U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to confront India – a companion in the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework – over its 100% tariff on pecans”

ICYMI from the AJC: “Sen. Raphael Warnock […] sent a letter to [USTR] Tai in August urging her to create more trade opportunities for pecan growers and shellers”

Washington D.C. — Today, following months of leadership to expand market access and increase profitability for Georgia pecan growers and shellers, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) celebrated India’s decision to dramatically reduce its customs tariff on pecans by 70 percent, from 100 percent to 30 percent.

“I’m thrilled to see months of advocacy on behalf of Georgia pecan growers and shellers pay off,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Georgia produces nearly a third of America’s pecans, and this announcement from the Indian government is welcome news that will expand global access to Georgia, and further cement our state’s status as a prime agriculture state.”

A member of the Senate Agriculture committee, Senator Warnock has a solid track record of advocating to expand market opportunities and increase profitability for Georgia pecan growers and shellers. In August 2022, Senator Warnock led a bipartisan push, joined by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), to urge U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai to negotiate with the Indian government for lower tariff rates that will benefit Georgia pecan growers and shellers. Following Senator Warnock’s letter, Ambassador Tai committed to engaging Indian trade officials and working towards a “positive outcome”  to grow market opportunities for Georgia pecans.

Georgia is the leading pecan-producing state, accounting for about one-third of total U.S. production. A high pecan tariff previously imposed by India—100% for U.S. pecans exported to the country—severely limited Georgia pecan exports. The high tariff resulted in few imports and consequently little revenue for the country. Without a reduction in the tariff rate, there was little opportunity for U.S. pecan export success in the growing international market. 

A stalwart advocate for Georgia’s pecan growers, as the chair of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade during the last Congress, Senator Warnock pushed his Senate colleagues to quickly consider and confirm nominees for two federal agricultural trade leadership positions to address trade concerns and reduce trade barriers faced by Georgia farmers. Additionally, Senator Warnock led a bipartisan push in the Senate to reduce restrictive trade barriers and expand export market access for domestic peanut farmers and processors.

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