Indian exporters of spices, tea, cashew and a wide range of processed foods are set to benefit after US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariff cuts on nearly 200 food products to ease price pressures for American consumers. The decision comes amid political backlash over rising grocery costs, which contributed to Republican defeats in recent state elections. Indian goods feature prominently in the revised list. The tariff rollbacks cover products including black pepper, cloves, cumin, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, several tea varieties, mango derivatives and cashew nuts - all categories where India has a strong export footprint. In 2024, India sent over $500 million worth of spices and about $83 million worth of tea and coffee to the United States. Cashew exports were close to $200 million, making them one of the most significant beneficiaries of the revised duties. Indian officials said nearly 50 categories of processed foods could see substantial gains. These include coffee and tea extracts, cocoa-based products, fruit juices, pulp items, mango preparations and vegetable waxes - collectively valued at around $491 million in exports last year. Spices, valued at $359 million, form the next substantial group of beneficiaries. Another 48 categories of fruits and nuts - such as mangoes, coconuts, guavas, bananas, cashews, pineapples and areca nuts - will also see an advantage, although these accounted for a smaller combined value of around $55 million. Overall, the revised tariff list affects nearly one-fifth of India’s $5.7 billion agricultural shipments to the US. Why did the US roll back the tariffs now? The White House said the tariff exemptions were introduced because many of the listed products are not produced domestically in sufficient quantities and are essential to keeping food prices stable. The move takes effect retroactively from midnight on Thursday, November 13. Trump has faced rising criticism over living costs, despite earlier downplaying concerns about inflation. The electoral setbacks in Virginia and New Jersey last week intensified pressure on his administration to take immediate measures on food affordability. By easing imports, the US aims to moderate retail prices and ensure supply stability - a development that gives Indian exporters renewed access to a large, high-value market at a crucial time. Officials said the tariff relief is expected to support Indian exporters across agricultural, processed food and value-added segments, particularly as global demand remains uneven. The revised regime offers an opportunity to expand market share in premium categories such as spices, tea, cashews and processed fruit products. With the US being one of India’s most important destinations for agricultural goods, exporters are likely to gain in both volume and value as the revised duties open up wider opportunities in the world’s largest consumer market.