In Focus by The Hindu Tariff Watch Part 2: How US tariffs could impact India’s textiles sector
Sep 12, 2025
Soundariya Preetha M, Deputy Chief of Bureau at The Hindu and textile industry reporter, joins Thivya Rakini, State President of Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labour Union, to discuss the impact of U.S. tariffs on India's textiles sector. They explore how new duties are squeezing export margins, leading to stalled orders and increased inventory pressures. The conversation reveals the struggles faced by workers, especially women, and highlights the urgent need for policy support to bolster this vital industry in the face of economic challenges.
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US Market Is Volume-Dependent And Time-Sensitive
- The U.S. is a volume market and abrupt tariff moves froze orders, leaving exporters with piled-up inventory.
- Garments held for a season risk becoming unsellable because fashion cycles move fast.
Field Visits Reveal Silent Buyers And Christmas Risk
- Soundariya Preetha traveled to Tirupur and Karur and found buyers have stopped communicating for weeks.
- Made-up home-textile exporters fear Christmas-season shipments may not be accepted by buyers.
India's Big Share Raises Exposure
- India dominates certain home-textile segments, holding over 70% of the U.S. towel and bed-linen market.
- That concentrated exposure increases vulnerability to sudden U.S. tariff shifts.