Jaipur: Exporters in Rajasthan Wednesday expressed concern over the 25% tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump on exports from India. Federation of Rajasthan Exporters (FORE) president and former chairman of Rajasthan Export Promotion Council, Rajeev Arora, said the higher tariff is likely to have a serious negative impact, especially on export-oriented industries like gems, jewellery, and textiles.“In 2024, India exported goods worth $87.4 billion to the US, which is about 18% of our total exports. Labour-intensive sectors such as gems, jewellery, and textiles contribute significantly to this. The 25% tariff imposed by the US will make Indian products expensive in the US market, reducing our competitiveness,” Arora said.He added, “This tariff not only threatens exports but also millions of jobs, especially in states like Rajasthan where the gems, jewellery, and textiles industries provide large-scale employment.”However, Federation of Indian Trade and Industry (FORTI) said Rajasthan’s exporters should not be worried yet. Suresh Agarwal, president of FORTI, said, “It is a pressure tactic, which is used to influence the trade talks ongoing between the two countries. India should not succumb to the demands of the US, which will be worse than the 25% tariff.”Agarwal said the sixth round of talks between the US and India on the tariff deal is to be held in Aug. “After this, the real tariff rates will be decided. We have to wait for that announcement,” he said.
