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Why India Rice Tariff: On one hand, American representatives are going to come here to take forward the trade deal with India, meanwhile Donald Trump administration is preparing to impose another tariff on India. Everyone is surprised by the sudden announcement of this tariff, but a woman sitting in a meeting with Trump is behind it. Let us know who is this woman, who has increased the tension in India.
Who is the woman behind Rice Tariff: US President Donald Trump is preparing to give another blow to India in the tariff matter. In fact, during talks on giving bailout package to American farmers, Trump talked about imposing new tariffs on Indian rice. Donald Trump was talking on this issue and listening to the complaints of his farmers. Meanwhile, the woman sitting right next to him drew his attention towards Indian rice in the American market and within a moment the sword of another tariff started hanging over India.
On the allegations of dumping by American farmers, Trump has said that his government will investigate the claims that many countries are dumping low-priced rice in the American market. A video of this meeting is going viral, in which the White House conversation is visible. President Trump tells US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant that India is dumping and demands that tariffs be imposed on them. Trump says this when the rice farmer sitting next to him and the CEO of an American famous rice mill draws his attention towards this. Let us know who is this woman?
Who is that woman, who increased India’s tension?
The name of the woman who raised the issue of Indian rice to Trump is Merrill Kennedy. She is the CEO of Kennedy Rice Mill and had attended the meeting as a rice farmer. Born in the small village of Mer Rouge and raised in the same rural area, Merrill graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in International Affairs and a minor in Spanish. Despite the opportunity to study at Oxford University, he chose to return home to pursue the family rice business with his father. The Kennedy family’s agribusiness operates in multiple areas such as rice cultivation, drying, milling, distribution, grain storage, marketing, land management and real estate.
At just 21 years old, Merrill founded and developed the Kennedy Rice Mill. It is one of the few new modern rice mills built in the United States in the last 25 years. Responding to the growing demand for sustainable and organic products, Merrill and her family launched their own branded rice product line. Their products are sold under the KenChaux and 4Sisters brands. His rice mill has received awards like Business Innovative Leadership Award in 2018 and Manufacturer of the Year in 2019. Currently, Meryl lives in Mer Rouge village with her husband Peyton Farr and two children – Alton and Kennedy.
Why is there a tariff on rice?
This matter is related to the $12 billion aid plan for American farmers announced by Trump on December 8, 2025. This package is being given to those farmers who were harmed by Trump’s earlier tariff policies. Representatives of the American rice industry want a ban or increased protection on rice coming from India. India had sent 2.34 lakh tonnes of rice to America last year. In the year 2025, India will export 19.9 million tonnes of rice across the world, which is a trade based on global demand and not on any subsidy based dumping. When Merrill Kennedy told Trump about rice import from India, he immediately told him to write down the name of Scott India. This matter becomes serious because this new tariff is about to be announced when the American representatives are about to come to India for trade talks.
