As India and the US are preparing to finalise an interim trade deal, India has drawn a line on opening dairy to the US - with "non-veg milk" causing contention.
India is asserting that there should be strict certification delineating that imported milk comes from cows that have not been fed animal-based products such as meat of blood. India has termed this as a "non-negotiable red line" because of religious and cultural sensitivities. Milk and ghee are used in religious rituals in India every day.
NZ is also talking to India about a potential trade deal and dairy is again the sticking point.
The Indians are making it clear that there is no question of conceding on dairy. It's a red line for them.
