Canada’s pulse sector is confronting a significant headwind as India moves to reintroduce a steep import duty on yellow peas beginning Nov. 1, dealing a blow to one of its largest overseas buyers.

The South Asian nation has announced a 30 per cent tariff on yellow pea imports, with the tax applying to shipments bearing a bill of lading on or after that date. A grace-period applies: consignments dated Oct. 31 or earlier will escape the charge.

For Canadian exporters the timing could not be worse. Canada is a major supplier of yellow peas globally, and India has been a key destination for those exports. The re-imposed duty follows an earlier policy that allowed duty-free entry of yellow peas until the end of March 2026.

Industry participants in the Prairies are already expressing concern that this development will undercut competitiveness at a time when alternative export markets are limited and supply is abundant. The export outlook is now clouded by a combination of increased global supply—particularly in countries such as Russia, Ukraine and the United States—and faltering demand growth.

Analysts note that the Canadian crop outlook for the year showed stronger-than-expected yields and a large available carry-in, meaning Canadian producers may face pressure on price in the face of a narrowing set of outlets.

The Indian government has indicated that the tariff is a response to mounting concerns from domestic farmers, who say cheap imports have suppressed local pulse prices and threatened their livelihoods. With India already being one of the world’s largest importers of yellow peas, the policy shift has repercussions beyond trade policy and into agricultural sustainability.

For Canadian growers, attention is now shifting to how the federal government will respond. The sector is looking for diplomatic and trade-policy manoeuvres that could restore access or diversify markets, but such efforts will face both complexity and urgency.

The coming months are likely to be especially challenging for Canadian pulse exporters as they navigate new duties, saturated global supply and heightened competition.