Representatives from India's crucial leather sector sounded the alarm before a key parliamentary committee in Chennai on Wednesday, highlighting the severe damage being inflicted by steep American import duties on their exports.
High-Level Meeting in Chennai
A delegation of top industry officials met with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce to present their case. The group included PR Aqeel Ahmed, the former chairman of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), Abdul Wahab, the CLE's regional chairman, and R Selvam, the council's executive director.
Their central message was one of urgent concern. The officials detailed how the 50% tariffs imposed by the United States are directly undermining the competitiveness of Indian leather goods in one of their most vital international markets.
Competitiveness Eroded, Jobs at Risk
The industry representatives explained that these elevated tariffs have made Indian products significantly more expensive compared to offerings from other global suppliers. This price disadvantage is adversely affecting export volumes to the US, a key destination for Indian leather.
Beyond the trade figures, the delegation underscored the profound human impact. They emphasized that the leather sector supports a vast workforce, including many women and workers from marginalised communities. A prolonged downturn caused by these trade barriers, they warned, could trigger serious socio-economic consequences across the supply chain.
Calls for Government Intervention and Diversification
In response to this crisis, the exporters presented a multi-pronged appeal to the parliamentary panel. They stressed the need for urgent bilateral engagement with the US to address both tariff and non-tariff barriers hindering trade.
The delegation specifically urged the committee to:
- Take up the issue of US tariffs at relevant policy and diplomatic forums.
- Extend necessary support measures to help exporters navigate the current challenges.
- Facilitate the diversification of export markets to reduce the industry's vulnerability to such trade uncertainties in the future.
This meeting marks a formal escalation of the industry's efforts to seek government assistance in resolving a trade dispute that threatens a significant segment of India's export economy and its associated livelihoods.
