Trade Discussions Hit a Cultural Wall
Trade Discussions Hit a Cultural Wall India Rejects US Dairy Due to Animal Feed Regulations Tariffs, quotas, and subsidies are frequently the main causes of contention when countries negotiate trade agreements. The largest obstacle in the current trade negotiations between the US and India, however, has little to do with money; rather, it has to do with what cows eat. India has set a clear precedent: until American dairy companies modify their animal feeding methods to satisfy India's vegetarian certification requirements , there would be no imports of dairy products from the US. A pivotal point in the larger trade pact negotiations between two of the biggest economies in the world, this debate stems from profound cultural, religious, and food safety concerns. The Reason Dairy is at the Center of the Conflict India produces and consumes more dairy products than any other country in the world. Milk is a sacred component of the nutrition and culture of millions of Indians...