India's export trade body, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), has identified over 300 “high potential items” for export to the United States, offering a fresh list for government negotiators to push for tariff cuts, ToI reported. In total, FIEO has drawn up a list of 408 items that it considers commercially important and strategically stable, accounting for over two-thirds of India’s total exports to the US.
The trade body has called for export promotion and trade facilitation measures for these items, which span from frozen shrimps and pharmaceuticals to smartphones, diamonds, carpets, toilet linen, milled rice and natural honey. While items like pharmaceuticals already form a large chunk of India’s exports, shrimps represent a particularly stronghold, accounting for over 40% of all such US imports.
Also Read: India's exports still have room to grow even if Trump walks the talk for 10% additional tariff
On the other hand, smaller items such as honey form only a minor part of India’s $86.5 billion in overall exports last year, but still represent a quarter of the US market, making them strategically valuable despite the lower volume.
The list includes multiple textile products, leather goods, footwear, chemicals, engineering items, and electrical and electronics goods—categories where Indian exporters have traditionally had strong market positions.
The Indian government has already pushed for tariff concessions in several of these areas, particularly those that are labour-intensive. However, Indian exporters could lose their competitive edge in sectors such as shrimps and carpets, where a reciprocal tariff rate of 26%—earlier announced for India—would leave them at a disadvantage compared to global competitors.
A team of Indian officials led by Rajesh Agarwal, special secretary in the commerce department, will soon hold talks with US counterparts in an effort to secure favourable terms for Indian exports before the tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump come into effect on August 1.
The negotiations are complicated by India's refusal to offer concessions in sensitive categories like farm goods and dairy products. Trump has added further pressure by threatening more duties on countries that continue to align with Brics or purchase oil from sanction-hit Russia.
Within the Indian government, there is also concern about a lack of clarity in the tariff demands made by the Trump administration, adding another layer of uncertainty as officials attempt to finalise a deal.
The trade body has called for export promotion and trade facilitation measures for these items, which span from frozen shrimps and pharmaceuticals to smartphones, diamonds, carpets, toilet linen, milled rice and natural honey. While items like pharmaceuticals already form a large chunk of India’s exports, shrimps represent a particularly stronghold, accounting for over 40% of all such US imports.
Also Read: India's exports still have room to grow even if Trump walks the talk for 10% additional tariff
On the other hand, smaller items such as honey form only a minor part of India’s $86.5 billion in overall exports last year, but still represent a quarter of the US market, making them strategically valuable despite the lower volume.
The list includes multiple textile products, leather goods, footwear, chemicals, engineering items, and electrical and electronics goods—categories where Indian exporters have traditionally had strong market positions.
The Indian government has already pushed for tariff concessions in several of these areas, particularly those that are labour-intensive. However, Indian exporters could lose their competitive edge in sectors such as shrimps and carpets, where a reciprocal tariff rate of 26%—earlier announced for India—would leave them at a disadvantage compared to global competitors.
A team of Indian officials led by Rajesh Agarwal, special secretary in the commerce department, will soon hold talks with US counterparts in an effort to secure favourable terms for Indian exports before the tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump come into effect on August 1.
The negotiations are complicated by India's refusal to offer concessions in sensitive categories like farm goods and dairy products. Trump has added further pressure by threatening more duties on countries that continue to align with Brics or purchase oil from sanction-hit Russia.
Within the Indian government, there is also concern about a lack of clarity in the tariff demands made by the Trump administration, adding another layer of uncertainty as officials attempt to finalise a deal.
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