India
oi-Swastika Sruti
The
Indian
government
has
tried
to
calm
exporters’
concerns
after
the
United
States
announced
a
25%
tariff
on
countries
doing
business
with
Iran.
Officials
said
that
the
new
duty
would
have
only
a
minimal
impact
on
Indian
exports,
as
India’s
trade
with
Iran
remains
relatively
small
and
diversified.
Following
the
US’s
25%
tariff
on
countries
trading
with
Iran,
Indian
officials
stated
minimal
impact
on
exports,
as
India’s
2024
trade
with
Iran
was
$1.6
billion.
However,
Indian
rice
exporters,
particularly,
are
concerned
because
India
is
Iran’s
primary
rice
supplier.
According
to
official
data,
India’s
total
trade
with
Iran
in
2024
stood
at
$1.6
billion,
while
Iran’s
total
imports
were
valued
at
around
$68
billion.
This
means
India’s
share
in
Iran’s
import
market
is
minor
compared
to
other
countries
such
as
the
United
Arab
Emirates
($21
billion),
China
($17
billion),
Turkey
($11
billion),
and
the
European
Union
($6
billion).
STORY | Minimal risk for India from Trumps 25 per cent Iran-linked tariffs: Govt sources
US President Donald Trumps fresh threat of a 25 per cent tariff on any country doing business with Iran is likely to have a “minimal impact” on India, government sources said on Tuesday.… pic.twitter.com/xncsfRHTKd
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 13, 2026“>
Concerns
Among
Indian
Rice
Exporters
The
tariff
announcement
by
US
President
Donald
Trump
has
raised
concerns
among
Indian
rice
exporters,
as
India
is
Iran’s
largest
supplier
of
rice.
Tehran
imports
nearly
two-thirds
of
its
rice
from
India,
making
it
a
valuable
market
for
Indian
farmers
and
exporters.
However,
some
exporters
have
become
hesitant
to
sign
new
deals
with
Iranian
buyers,
fearing
possible
payment
delays
or
trade
disruptions.
A
senior
official
at
a
leading
rice
exporting
company
said,
“The
25%
levy
under
the
Trump
framework
adds
a
new
challenge
to
the
basmati
rice
sector.”
Another
exporter
from
New
Delhi
said
that
some
payments
for
rice
shipped
recently
are
still
pending,
while
a
few
buyers
in
Iran
have
even
fled
the
country
amid
ongoing
protests.
Global
Trade
Impact
and
China’s
Dilemma
Trump’s
tariff
decision
also
puts
China
in
a
difficult
spot,
as
it
is
one
of
Iran’s
biggest
trading
partners.
In
2022,
Iranian
exports
to
China
were
valued
at
$22
billion,
more
than
half
of
which
came
from
oil
and
fuel.
Imports
from
China
totaled
$15
billion,
according
to
World
Bank
data.
By
2025,
China
was
buying
more
than
80%
of
Iran’s
exported
oil,
based
on
figures
from
energy
analytics
firm
Kpler.
Because
of
existing
US
sanctions,
Iran
already
has
a
limited
number
of
countries
willing
to
purchase
its
crude
oil.
The
new
tariff
could
further
isolate
Tehran
economically
while
adding
pressure
on
its
trade
partners,
especially
China
and
Turkey.
