Indian mangoes worth 4.2 crores destroyed in America: Documentary discrepancy or Trump's policy? Know the whole matter

New Delhi: About 25 tonnes of mangoes in 15 shipments sent from India to America were rejected by US officials, after which they had to be destroyed. Indian exporters have suffered a loss of about Rs 4.2 crore (about 5 lakh dollars) due to this incident. Officially, the reason for this has been said to be a discrepancy in the documents related to the irradiation process, especially the PPQ203 form. But many people are linking it to Donald Trump's new trade policies, which have raised questions on India-US trade relations.

What happened in the matter?

On May 8 and 9, 2025, 25 tonnes of mangoes in 15 shipments by 10 Indian exporters were given radiation treatment at the irradiation centre in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. The process is a requirement of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is mandatory to eliminate pests and increase the shelf life of mangoes. These shipments arrived by air at airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Atlanta. But US Customs and Border Protection denied entry to these shipments, citing flaws in the documents.

The exporters were given two options: either destroy the mangoes in the US, or send them back to India. Due to the perishable nature of mangoes and the high cost of repatriation, the exporters decided to destroy them. According to a report in the Economic Times, these mangoes were worth over Rs 4.2 crore.

What went wrong?

The Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) and exporters say the glitch took place at the irradiation centre in Navi Mumbai. The PPQ203 form, which is issued under the supervision of a USDA official, was prepared incorrectly. "It was not our mistake but that of the Irradiation Centre. The documents are prepared in the presence of a USDA official, yet we are suffering losses," said an exporter on condition of anonymity.

Indian officials, in response, claimed that the US inspection team did not follow standard protocols. MSAMB said that if the US clearance department had sought the PPQ203 form earlier, the matter could have been resolved.

No question on quality of mangoes

Exporters clarified that there was no deficiency in the quality of mangoes, nor were insects or diseases found in them. The matter was completely limited to a technical defect in documentation. But this mess has raised questions on the credibility of Indian mangoes, which are considered the "king of fruits" in the global market.

Impact on India-US trade

Exports of Indian mangoes to the US grew 130% in 2023-24, from $4.36 million to $10.01 million. India is the world's largest mango producer, producing 22.6 million metric tonnes of mangoes in 2024-25. The US is the second-largest buyer of Indian mangoes (23%), after the UAE (31%).

The incident has raised questions about the Trump administration's trade policies. Some x-posts claimed that this could be part of Trump's "America First" policy, targeting India's exports. One user wrote, "India gifted mangoes to Trump, but he showed his double standards by rejecting our trade." However, this claim has not been officially confirmed.

Reaction of Indian farmers and FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has warned of crackdown on the use of illegal chemicals, especially calcium carbide, in ripening fruits. FSSAI directed states to conduct strict checks of mandis and warehouses.

Exporters and farmers are disappointed. "We bought mangoes from registered orchards, followed all standards, yet we suffered losses," said an exporter. The incident has highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the Indian export process.

The broader context of Trump's policies

The incident coincides with the Trump administration's tough trade policies towards India. Recently, Trump threatened Apple with a 25% tariff on iPhone production in India, which dealt a blow to 'Make in India'. Some analysts believe the rejection of mangoes may also be part of a strategy to weaken India's exports, although there is no concrete evidence of this.

Way forward

MSAMB confirmed that 39 shipments of 185.75 tonnes of mangoes were successfully accepted from the Mumbai Irradiation Centre to the US between May 11 and 18. This shows that process improvement has started.

But this incident is a lesson for India. There is a need to remove technical flaws in the export process and better coordination with the USDA. Also, India will have to strengthen its strategy in response to Trump's trade policies.

Conclusion

The destruction of Indian mangoes worth Rs 4.2 crore is not only an economic loss but also a sign of increasing tension in India-US trade relations. Documentary glitches caused the loss this time, but India will have to strengthen its export process further to avoid such incidents in future. Is this the effect of Trump's policies or just a technical lapse? This question is worth considering for global trade and Indian farmers.