In brief
Indian factories, notably in Tiruppur and Surat, are reeling from US President Trump's new 50% tariffs, which have paralyzed production and halted orders from major retail chains. Business owners voice their concerns over livelihoods, with many fearing that the impending changes will force significant layoffs. The annual festive season, crucial for garment exports, is now overshadowed by uncertainty as firms navigate the costs and challenges associated with the tariffs.
'How will I pay workers?': Indian factories hit hard by Trump's 50% tariffs
An eerie silence hangs over N Krishnamurthy's garment manufacturing unit in Tiruppur, one of India's largest textile export hubs...
Only a fraction of some 200 industrial sewing machines on the floor are in operation as workers make the last of the season's children's garment orders for some of the biggest US retailers...
At a 50% tariff rate, an Indian-made shirt that once sold at $10 will cost US buyers $16.4, far costlier than options from Vietnam or Bangladesh...
Many fear that this is too little, too late. As US buyers begin to divert their purchases towards alternative countries, the long-term sustainability of India's garment and shrimp industries hangs in the balance...
