US tariff law fuels uncertainty, threatens Indian exports to America
Indian exporters warn that the newly signed US tariff legislation creates market uncertainty and could disrupt trade with the United States.
President Donald Trump signed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which could enable steep tariffs on Indian products and those of its energy partners. Indian exporters say the law introduces significant uncertainty, making it difficult to gauge the impact without knowing exact duty rates, covered items, and implementation timelines. Sharad Saraf, head of Technocraft Industries, highlighted concerns about how duties on competitors like China might affect Indian firms.
Mohit Singla of the Trade Promotion Council of India called the move a major worry that could disrupt bilateral business ties. Rafeeq Ahmed of Farida Group warned that a 65% reliance on the US market makes his company vulnerable to any duty increase. Think tank GTRI cautioned that the law could be used to pressure India over Russian oil purchases and trade agreements, urging the country not to tie energy policy to tariff relief.
Why it matters
Potential US tariffs could reshape India-US trade, affecting millions of jobs and key export sectors.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTCenter coverage frames the law as creating broad uncertainty for Indian exporters overall, stressing vague duty rates and vulnerability of firms, while right-leaning coverage zeroes in on a 100% tariff on textiles, portraying a sharp competitiveness blow and urging tighter India-US trade talks.
CENTER
Centrist coverage portrays the tariff law as generating widespread uncertainty and risk for Indian exporters across sectors.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage depicts the tariff as a punitive 100% duty on Indian textiles that threatens competitiveness and calls for stronger bilateral trade engagement.
The right emphasises
- 100% tariff on imports from countries buying Russian oil
- hard for the MSME-dominated textile industry to absorb
- call for closer India-US engagement to secure a fair trade deal
How this story developed
- Aug 30 India supplies nearly a million barrels of gasoline to Russia as Moscow faces refinery attacks
- Sep 11 Russia has begun importing Jet A‑1 from South Korea and Egypt.
- Sep 16 The House passed a fresh sanctions package targeting Russia with a 262-159 vote, now awaiting President Trump's signature.
- Sep 17 The Senate approved the bill with an 86‑11 vote last month.
- Sep 19 President Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 into law.
- Sep 19 President Donald Trump signed a bill that gives the United States new authority to impose broad sanctions on Russia, targeting its energy sector and senior officials.
- Sep 19 President Trump signed the expanded sanctions law.
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