India Enforces 30% Import Duty on Canadian Yellow Peas, Impacting Global Pulse Trade
03 November 2025, New Delhi: In a significant shift for the global pulse trade, India has introduced a 30% import duty on Canadian yellow peas effective November 1, 2025. This development poses a fresh challenge for Canadian exporters, who were already coping with a 100% tariff imposed by China earlier this year.
According to trade experts, while China’s tariff hike was largely perceived as a response to Canada’s levies on Chinese electric vehicles, India’s move is rooted in domestic economic considerations. The Indian government stated that the decision aims to discourage cheaper imports and safeguard the interests of its farmers—particularly as the country navigates self-sufficiency in key pulses.
The new tariff has raised concerns in Canada’s agricultural sector, especially in Saskatchewan, where pea cultivation is a major contributor to farm income. Daryl Harrison, Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Minister, has called on federal officials to quickly engage with India to restore free trade terms. He highlighted that trade barriers of this magnitude disrupt the entire value chain, affecting producers, agribusinesses, and related employment.
Pulse Canada President Greg Cherewyk said the industry had been anticipating a tariff from India but not this quickly. He noted that prices of yellow peas in Canada have already fallen by over 40% since February 2025, reflecting the severity of market uncertainty. With both India and China—who collectively account for over two-thirds of Canada’s pea exports—now restricting access, the sector faces a surplus with limited avenues for redirection.
Domestic processors have recently increased their capacity to absorb more pulses for use in pet food and animal nutrition. However, Cherewyk cautioned that these markets, while growing, cannot instantly compensate for the loss of major export destinations such as India and China.
In 2024, Saskatchewan alone exported nearly USD 348 million worth of pulses to India, underscoring the province’s dependency on the South Asian market. With the current marketing year underway, Canadian pulse growers are bracing for tighter margins and increased pressure, as international trade dynamics continue to reshape the agricultural landscape.
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