India–US Trade Deal Tussle: Dairy’s “Non-Veg Milk” Sticking Point
Negotiations on the India–US trade agreement have been complicated by cultural, regulatory and market concerns over U.S. dairy imports, with the contentious issue of so-called “non-veg milk” emerging as a symbolic bone of contention.
In India’s trade discourse, “non-veg milk” refers to milk from cows fed animal-derived supplements such as meat meal, blood meal, tallow and other by-products permitted under U.S. dairy farming practices. These feed components are viewed by many Indian consumers as incompatible with cultural and dietary norms, especially given the central role of dairy in religious rituals and everyday vegetarian diets.
During earlier rounds of India–U.S. negotiations, this concern became a major sticking point, with India insisting that any imported dairy products be accompanied by strict certifications confirming that milk-producing animals were never fed animal-based feeds. The United States, a major global dairy exporter, has called India’s certification requirements an “unnecessary trade barrier,” underscoring the regulatory divergence between the two countries and the difficulty of reconciling food-safety norms with trade liberalisation goals.
The “non-veg milk” debate reflects a broader set of sensitivities around dairy market access in the bilateral deal. India has historically protected its dairy sector with high tariffs and rigorous sanitary requirements in order to safeguard both small-scale farmer livelihoods and cultural food practices. While the U.S. seeks expanded access for its agricultural exports, Indian officials have maintained that opening the dairy market without adequate cultural and regulatory safeguards would be politically and socially untenable.
As trade discussions continue, the handling of dairy — whether through certification frameworks, quota protections, or outright exclusions — remains one of the most watched and contested aspects of the India-US trade dialogue.
Source : Dairynews7x7 Feb 7th 2026 Read full story here