On August 27, 2025, U.S. tariffs on Indian exports doubled to 50%, slamming nearly $60 billion worth of goods from textiles and gems to furniture and leather. Industry groups warn shipments to America could plunge by more than 40%, with job losses running into the hundreds of thousands. But behind the headlines lies a deeper story.

For decades, Indian exporters leaned on the predictability of the U.S. market. But it was a comfort trap that left them dangerously exposed. Now, that comfort has snapped. Factories are idling, the rupee is weakening, and growth forecasts are being cut.

And yet, this shock could also be the push India needs to diversify and build resilience into its export ecosystem. Can a crisis this severe become the catalyst for transformation?

Tune in.

More on Trump's tariffs:
1. US consumers may not notice the ‘Made in India’ tag, but after Trump's tariffs, their wallets will
2. Biden said 'please' till 2024. Trump's saying 'penalty' in 2025

Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

Crock-Dough-Burn-Pho-Est: Silverlake Ramen with Betsy Sodaro

Doughboys

Ad break

The AI-powered Podcast Player