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India is the world’s most populous country and boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the world. As Indian households continue to reach higher levels of consumer spending, imported agricultural products are becoming more accessible to a larger number of people.

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a legume full of protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, and are relatively low in calories. Chickpeas are used in many Indian and Mediterranean dishes. Australia, India, and Canada are the top three chickpea exporters accounting for more than 40 percent of the world’s exports in 2022. Pakistan is the largest importer, followed by the European Union, Bangladesh, and Turkey.

Peas, beans, and lentils are staple protein sources in the Pakistani diet. Eaten with either flat bread (daal-roti) or rice (daal-chaawal), the demand for these pulses is growing as inflation leads consumers to search for alternatives to animal protein.

On September 5, 2023, and just in time for the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Summit, India’s Ministry of Finance issued Notification No. 53/2023 (Customs), officially notifying the lifting of retaliatory tariffs imposed in 2019 on U.S.-origin almonds, apples, chickpeas, lentils, and walnuts effective September 6, 2023.

For calendar year (CY) 2022, Post forecasts pulses area harvested will increase by 3 percent and production will total 295,000 metric tons (MT) as a response to high international prices and shorter supply. Post estimates CY 2022 pulse imports to decrease to 40,000 MT due to higher domestic production, higher pulse prices, existing stocks, higher freight costs, and a strong U.S. dollar.

Throughout mid 2021 to early 2022, FAS Lima conducted twelve activities under the "Eat More Pulses" campaign to promote consumption of pulses nationwide. The goal of the campaign is to expand the Peruvian market for pulses.

Through its phased-in tariff reductions, the agreement will raise challenges for U.S. products including wine and spirits, cotton, pulses and beans, forest products, and tree nuts.

On March 29, 2022, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry MOCI) issued Notification No. 63/2015-2020. This notification extends the unrestricted (free) import policy for pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) and urad/black gram lentils (Vigna mungo) to March 31, 2023 (favorable treatment had been set to expire on March 31, 2022).

On February 12, 2022, India’s Ministry of Finance notified that it is removing the 10 percent Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess/tax (AIDC) on imports of lentils (HS 0713 40 00) with effect from February 13, 2022, through September 30, 2022.

Since March 1, 2021, the Indian government’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has required a mandatory Non-Genetically Modified (GM) and GM-Free status certificate status for the 24 listed crops in its order.

On September 17, 2021, India’s Ministry of Finance issued Notification No. 44/2021-Customs. The basic import duty on U.S.-origin lentils is increased from 10 percent to 20 percent.

Global lentil exports in 2020 jumped from $1 billion to $2.6 billion compared to the year before. Canada and Australia led the surge, accounting for more than three-fourths of the exports. Lentil exports peaked at $2.7 billion in 2015 but drifted lower through 2019, primarily due to reduced shipments from Canada to India and Turkey and from the United States to Canada and India.