US Pressure on India for GM Soybean and Corn Exports Continues

24-Dec-2025 03:30 PM

Des Moines. The United States is continuously making strong efforts to gain access to the Indian market for its GM soybeans and corn, but without success. It is understood that the continued stalemate on this issue has prevented a final decision on a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries. Due to a sharp decline in exports to China, the US is looking for alternative markets for its GM corn and soybeans, and therefore its focus has shifted to India.

India has so far kept its market closed to GM crops and has limited itself to the production of only non-GM and organic crops.

Indian farmers are not in favor of producing GM food crops, nor do they want to import them from abroad. American GM corn is considerably cheaper.

If large-scale imports of it begin in India, domestic production could be severely affected. Corn production in India is consistently increasing, easily meeting domestic demand and consumption.

If imports are ever needed, small quantities are sourced from Myanmar or Ukraine, where non-GM corn is produced.

Due to excellent production, corn prices in India have softened, and farmers are finding it difficult to get profitable returns.

As far as soybeans are concerned, this year the crop suffered some damage due to excessive rainfall and waterlogging in the fields.

However, the supply and availability situation in the domestic market remains comfortable, and prices are running below the minimum support price. The cost of soybean production has increased.

The Indian government remains firm on its decision not to open its market to GM corn and soybeans, which has put the US in a difficult position.

India argues that its products enjoy strong global demand because they are in the non-GM category. India produces more than 13 million tons of soybeans and over 42 million tons of corn annually.

Large quantities of soybean oil are being imported from abroad, which meets the domestic demand.