WASHINGTONS: It was A tough nut to crack but fast week U.S. and Indian officials settled a trade dispute threatening one of the favorites markets for California’s almond growers.

 Squeezed by congressional and Clinton administration pressure grow all of the United States* commercial almond crop that’s welcome news

It reinstates the possibility of building what has become a $48 million market affairs director for the Sacramento-based Blue Diamond Growers. There’s a big future for India.

Indias potential is both obvious and subtle With about 900 million residents India is now the fifth-largest importer of California almonds as top agricultural export almonds currently account for about 60% of the country’s farm trade with India. Fast-growing India is a market that could overtake Japan as the No.4 importer according to Brauner not least because it’s a population that may shun meat but employs high-protein almonds liberally in cooking.

Unlike other countries which may buy almonds already shelled India buys for a relatively higher price nonpareil soft shell almonds that its large work force processes. We Sell a lot of in-shell almonds to India that we don’t spell anywhere else in the world Brauner said

All of which helps explain why California’s almond industry called on some major political talent to contest Indias decision in February to let its in-shell almond tariff lag at a high level

That month contrary to an earlier agreement India reduced its tariff on shelled almonds without 4 commensurate decreases in the in-shell almond tariff. That gave almonds from Iran an advantage over California and cost the states: almond exporters an $1.8 million in lost sate a it?  .

  Soon Californians made sure Congress and the Clinton administration Knew about the problem the almond issue has become a matter of serious concern to U.S official’s members of Congress from California and other states and American businessmen interested in the Indian market U.S Trade Representative Mickey Kantor wrote his Indian counterpart.

Kantor pressed the Indians on the issue in Marrake during signing  of a new global trade agreed US embassy are brought it   in New Delhi Reps. Vic Fazio D-West Sacramento and Bob Matsui D-Sacramento also were particularly vocal Brauner said. Another hassle was the last thing India wanted.

The Indian government already has been shaken by Clintons Seeming inattention marked by a long delay in naming a U.S ambassador and by letters from lawmakers like Rep Gary Condit Decrees concerning Sikh rights.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 27, 1994