India and the United States have shared broad plans for a trade deal, but key details remain hidden. India is expected to give only limited access to its agricultural market. India bans genetically modified (GM) food crops and is unlikely to lower tariffs on imported farm goods like corn, soybeans, and soymeal. These crops are mostly GM in the US, limiting Indian market access. Unlike China, which buys huge US corn and soybeans, India’s needs are small. India has large stocks of corn and soymeal, used as animal feed. While India imports a lot of soyoil from Brazil, Argentina, and the US, it buys very little soybeans from overseas. India also produces plenty of ethanol domestically from corn, rice, and sugarcane, so it won’t easily accept US ethanol or corn imports for ethanol. The US wants more access to India’s dairy market, but India will likely protect this sector due to its importance to small farmers. Indian farmers usually own only two to three animals, unlike large herds in the US. India might ease tariffs on products that don’t hurt farmers, like almonds, walnuts, pistachios, apples, pears, and berries. These imports already happen, so lowering barriers here will be politically easier for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The US can claim gains for its farmers with more access to these products. Agriculture forms just 15% of India’s $4 trillion economy but supports half the population. About 80% of Indian farmers have two hectares or less of land, earning limited incomes. Farmers are a strong voting group; governments avoid upsetting them. Farmer groups like the Samyukt Kisan Morcha have criticized the Modi government over trade talks with the US.