EPCH Officials discuss Impact of US Reciprocal Tariffs on Handicrafts sector with Piyush Goyal

New Delhi – 09th April’2025 – Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce &Industry, Govt. of India along with other senior officials met the heads of various Export Promotion Councils and Industry Associations to discuss the impact of U.S. Reciprocal Tariffs on Indian exports and mitigation strategies informed R. K. Verma, Executive Director, EPCH.

Dr. Neeraj Khanna, Vice-Chairman-EPCH along with R. K. Verma, Executive Director EPCH and Rajesh Rawat, Addl. Executive Director EPCH attended the meeting. Dr. Neeraj Khanna, Vice – Chairman-EPCH submitted to the minister, the emerging challenges and potential impacts of recent tariff measures imposed by the United States on Indian handicraft exports. As far handicrafts sector is concerned, the reciprocal tariff imposed by USA on our competing countries like China, Vietnam are higher than what has been imposed in India thus giving us an advantage.

He urged the Government of India to prioritize bilateral trade negotiations with the U.S. to resolve the tariff issue, pursue a longer grace period for the implementation of reciprocal tariffs with the U.S. and highlighted support to consider an Emergency fund/Incentive Support Package, Re-introduce MEIS Benefits and others. The Minister gave a patient hearing to the issues raised.

Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts is a nodal agency for promotion of exports of handicrafts from the Country and create brand image of magic of the gifted hands of millions of artisans and craftspersons engaged in production of home, lifestyle, textiles, furniture and fashion jewellery & accessories products in different craft clusters of the Country. The overall Handicrafts exports during the year 2023-24 was Rs. 32,759 Crores (US $ 3,956 Million) and exports of handicrafts to the USA during the year 2023-24 was Rs. 13,381.07 Crores (US $ 1,616.12 Million) with a share of 41% of total exports of Handicrafts from India informed by R. K. Verma, Executive Director, EPCH.