US lawmakers and apple growers are rejoicing over the significant increase in apple exports to India this year. After New Delhi removed the 20% retaliatory tariff on American products, including apples, the export volume from Washington State to India has grown 16 times compared to the previous year. The milestone was marked at a port in Seattle, where Senator Maria Cantwell and Consul General Prakash Gupta were present alongside apple growers. The retaliatory tariffs had a severe financial impact on Washington apple growers, but the situation has improved since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, during which the tariffs were lifted. This season, Washington growers have shipped around 1.19 million boxes of apples to India, amounting to approximately $19.5 million in sales. The Senator emphasized the importance of strengthening trade relations between the two countries, not just in agriculture but also in areas like aviation, technology, and healthcare. She expressed confidence in the future growth of the Washington-India relationship and the potential benefits it can bring to both countries.