The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has expressed concern that possible additional U.S. tariffs following the signing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 could negatively impact India’s textile and apparel exports.
CITI Chairman Ashwin Chandran emphasized that the United States is the single-largest market for India's textile and apparel exports, making any tariff increases a significant concern. Chandran highlighted that these additional tariffs would be especially challenging for the MSME-dominated Indian textile and apparel sector to bear.
The industry is already under pressure from several factors, including ongoing turmoil in West Asia. Higher duties could raise the cost of Indian products in the U.S. market, potentially affecting their competitiveness and exporters' ability to maintain sales.
CITI’s concerns underscore the importance of stable and predictable trade conditions for India’s export-oriented textile industry. The proposed tariffs could add another layer of difficulty for Indian exporters amid broader international uncertainties.
