Briefing media after the meeting with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, Tom J Vilsack, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said, "Only general issues were discussed. For instance, export of mangoes is allowed to the US but the phytosanitary fee is kept at such a high level that it has become unviable for us."
Pawar said that the USDA official pointed out that the fee is uniform for all the countries and they can't take an exception to India.
Mango exports resumed in 2007 after a gap of 18 years. Last year, India exported almost 250 tonne of mangoes, whereas the country has the potential to export almost 500 tonne of mangoes annually.
Phytosanitary is the inspection intended to prevent the spread and the introduction across national boundaries of pests of plants and plant products.
The minister also shared that the US is keen to export barley and pet food products to India.
"They (USDA) are basically interested in export of barley and pet food products especially for dogs," Pawar said.
The USDA demanded that both countries should make market access available for agricultural products, he added.
Asked whether India will allow barley import from the US, Pawar said, "They are insisting on export of barley. But we have objection to argot grass that comes with barley."
Barley is not an important crop to India. It is produced in smaller quantity in Punjab. Import of it from the US will not affect our farmers, he said, adding that beer makers like United Breweries Group may benefit.
Pawar said these are the suggestions and nothing have been finalised yet. "Actually, we have to sit and discuss."