English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

US tariff cut to 18% is positive signal for Indian exporters, says Sitharaman

Nirmala Sitharaman says India’s exports could recover after the US reduced tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, restoring competitiveness in key sectors.

Published

on

Nirmala Sitharaman

India’s exports to the United States are expected to gain momentum following Washington’s decision to reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday, describing the move as a “good auguring” for exporters.

Speaking in an interview to media, Sitharaman said the tariff reduction would help Indian exporters regain competitiveness in the US market, particularly after the sharp impact of punitive duties imposed last year.

“So, actually our exports will pick up now, that is my expectation,” she said, adding that exporters had also identified alternative markets during the period of elevated tariffs and would continue operating in them.

Tariff rollback brings relief after export setback

The US had imposed steep tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods last year, which significantly raised landed costs and squeezed exporter margins. Several sectors, including steel, aluminium, textiles, engineering goods and certain agricultural products, were affected as US buyers diverted orders to other suppliers.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced a reduction in tariffs on Indian goods to 18% as part of a broader trade understanding. The agreement includes India lowering trade barriers and committing to stop purchases of Russian oil, instead sourcing energy from the US and potentially Venezuela.

On implementation, the revised tariff structure would bring duties on Indian exports broadly in line with other Asian economies, where rates range between 15% and 19%.

Improved competitiveness against regional rivals

The 18% tariff undercuts duties imposed on key regional competitors such as Vietnam and Bangladesh, which face tariffs of around 20%. This is expected to restore India’s price advantage in the US market.

Labour-intensive sectors such as apparel, footwear and jewellery are likely to see the most immediate benefit. These segments had witnessed a sharp fall in orders after the 50% tariffs imposed in August severely dented competitiveness.

Earlier in the day, Sitharaman described the development as “good news for #MadeInIndia products” in a social media post, noting that Indian goods would now face reduced duties in the US market.

Trade and capital flow impact

Earlier punitive tariffs had also weighed on bilateral trade. India’s trade surplus with the US shrank by an average of USD 2.5 billion per month between September and December 2025 compared to the January–August period, according to research cited in the report.

Investor sentiment had weakened as well, with foreign investors pulling out nearly USD 14 billion in equities since July 2025.

The rollback of the additional 25% punitive tariff linked to Russian oil purchases effectively lowers the applied tariff on Indian exports from 50% to 18%, offering significant relief to exporters and improving prospects for a recovery in trade flows.

India News

Vijay expresses gratitude to Modi, Rahul Gandhi for congratulatory messages after poll victory

Vijay thanked PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi after his party’s strong Tamil Nadu poll performance, promising governance focused on public welfare.

Published

on

Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for congratulating him on his party’s strong performance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026.

Vijay, who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), acknowledged the wishes shared by both leaders following the party’s impressive electoral debut, which has significantly altered the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.

Responding to the Prime Minister on social media platform X, Vijay said that his party’s focus would remain on public welfare and development. He emphasised that governance should rise above political differences and aim at improving the lives of the people.

“The well-being of our people remains our only goal… we shall focus on the state’s progress and welfare,” he said, while also expressing hope for support from the Union government in achieving these objectives.

The TVK has emerged as a major political force in the state, breaking the long-standing dominance of traditional parties and marking a major shift in Tamil Nadu’s political dynamics.

According to early developments, the party has staked claim to form the government and may seek additional support if required to prove its majority in the assembly.

Continue Reading

India News

Mamata Banerjee questions poll process, targets Election Commission after defeat

Mamata Banerjee accuses the Election Commission of misconduct after BJP’s historic win in West Bengal, questioning the fairness of the electoral process.

Published

on

mamta banerjee

TMC chief alleges irregularities in electoral process as BJP secures decisive victory in West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing it of playing “nasty games” during the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.

Reacting to her party’s defeat, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief alleged that the electoral process was not conducted fairly and raised serious concerns over the role of authorities in the outcome.

According to reports, Banerjee claimed that the mandate did not reflect the true will of the people, suggesting that irregularities and manipulation may have influenced the results. She questioned the credibility of the election process and indicated that her party would review the situation further.

The remarks came after the Bharatiya Janata Party registered a historic win in West Bengal, marking a major political shift in the state.

Banerjee’s criticism adds to a series of allegations made during and after the election period, where she had earlier also raised concerns about counting procedures and the conduct of central agencies.

Despite the setback, the TMC leadership has signalled that it will continue to challenge the results politically, while maintaining that democratic norms must be upheld.

Continue Reading

India News

Himanta Biswa Sarma attacks Congress after Assam win, says people made Pawan Khera eat Pera

Himanta Biswa Sarma targets Congress after BJP’s Assam win, saying voters made Pawan Khera eat pera.

Published

on

himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a sharp attack on the Congress after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance secured a decisive victory in the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.

Reacting to the results, Sarma took a swipe at Congress leader Pawan Khera, saying that the people of Assam had made him “eat pera,” a remark aimed at highlighting the party’s defeat in the state.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) registered a commanding win, marking its third consecutive term in Assam. The BJP itself won a significant number of seats, while its allies — the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) — also contributed to the alliance’s strong tally.

The victory underlines the BJP’s continued dominance in the northeastern state, with Sarma emerging as the central figure in the party’s campaign and governance narrative.

Political observers note that the scale of the mandate reflects voter support for the party’s leadership and its governance approach, even as the opposition struggled to mount an effective challenge.

With this result, the BJP has further strengthened its position in Assam’s political landscape, while the Congress faces renewed questions over its performance in the state.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com