WASHINGTON (AFP) - The first shipment of mangoes from India in 18 years arrived in the United States Tuesday under a deal to end a long ban on the fruit. if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object(); window.yzq_d['vbEPjkLEYrA-'] ='&U=13b4rl1j1%2fN%3dvbEPjkLEYrA-%2fC%3d590250.10717774. 1132 2671.2811175%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d4529897';
India has been pushing to resume exports of its mangoes to the United States ever since they were banned in 1989 over problems with pests such as fruit flies and weevils.
Ceremonies in Washington featured Indian officials and restaurateurs presenting the mangoes to US officials.
US Trade Representative Susan Schwab and Agriculture Secretary
Mike Johanns each received from Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen the first gift baskets of Indian King Alphonso mangoes.
"This is an important symbolic as well as substantive move. We think we have the best mangoes in the world," Sen told reporters.
"It should be a tangible benefit for Indian farmers," he added.
US < =yqin =https://yq.search.yahoo.com/search method=post> </>President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a deal in New Delhi in March 2006 to promote trade in agriculture that paved the way for the mango exports.
"US willingness to purchase Indian mangoes is another important step towards deeper engagement and more robust US-India trade," said Ron Somers, president of the US-India Business Council.
"As our commercial and strategic partnership deepens, two-way trade will soon reach new levels, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in India and thousands of jobs here at home."
India is the world's largest producer of mangoes with 12 million metric tons harvested each year, but it accounts for less than one percent of the global mango trade.
America's taste for mangoes is growing -- with US demand 99 percent dependent on imports mostly from Mexico and South America at 250,000 metric tons annually.
The mango opening highlighted a push by both the United States and India to double two-way trade to 60 billion dollars annually over the next two years
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If Langda is better I think they should've gifted langda ..nahi 😉