During a congressional hearing, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer remarked that India presents significant challenges in agricultural negotiations, referring to it as 'a tough nut to crack.' This statement came as Indian trade negotiators, led by chief negotiator Darpan Jain, were in Washington for three days of discussions, the first direct talks in six months. Congressman Randy Feenstra, representing Iowa's 4th congressional district, pressed Greer on accessing India's agricultural market, particularly for animal feed products such as dried distillers’ grains (DDGs). Greer acknowledged that while India has historically protected its agricultural sector, there are areas where mutual agreements could be reached. Notably, an interim trade agreement allows limited imports of DDGs from the US, which is only about 1% of India's annual consumption. India's foreign ministry confirmed that the talks are ongoing and constructive, aiming for a balanced trade agreement that considers both countries' priorities. The goal is to achieve a trade target of $500 billion by 2030, which would more than double the current bilateral trade of approximately $212 billion projected for 2024.