US 50% tariff threatens Gujarat’s ₹29,000 crore chaniya choli and handicraft exports ahead of navratri

By Admin

03 Sep, 2025

The festive season of Navratri, which brings vibrant colors, traditional dance, and dazzling chaniya cholis, is clouded with uncertainty this year as Gujarat’s textile and handicraft exporters face a major setback. The Trump administration’s decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian exports has raised concerns for Surat, Kutch, Ahmedabad, and Rajkot regions that collectively power the state’s massive ₹29,000 crore chaniya choli and handicraft market.

A Festive Market Under Pressure

Gujarat is India’s heartland for festive attire, with chaniya cholis, beadwork, applique, and embroidery products forming the backbone of seasonal exports. These goods, along with handloom crafts, make their way primarily to the United States, which accounts for nearly 38% of India’s total handicraft exports. The timing of the tariff is particularly damaging, as exporters depend heavily on Navratri demand to drive sales.

The Scale of Impact

The numbers paint a grim picture:

• ₹29,400 crore worth of textiles and handicrafts are shipped annually from Gujarat to the US.
  
  

• Handloom exports such as carpets, shawls, and bed covers contribute ₹4,200 crore annually.
  
  

• Handicraft exports reached between ₹9,576–13,860 crore in 2022-23.
  
  

With the new tariffs in place, exporters warn that orders could shrink by 50–70%, threatening thousands of artisan families in Kutch and Saurashtra whose livelihoods depend on festive exports.

Voices from the Ground

Artisans and traders are calling for government intervention to soften the blow. “We prepare for months to meet Navratri demand in the US market. If tariffs stay, we may incur losses as high as 70%,” said a leading handloom trader from Kutch. Many are urging authorities to announce at least a 10% subsidy to help absorb the shock of reduced orders.

Long-Term Risks vs Short-Term Pain

While India’s domestic market for chaniya cholis and handicrafts remains strong and could cushion some of the blow in the long term, the immediate impact is severe. The tariff has injected fear and uncertainty across Gujarat’s textile hubs, with traders scrambling to renegotiate contracts and reassess pricing strategies.

The Road Ahead

For Gujarat’s artisans, Navratri is not just a festival but a season of survival and prosperity. The imposition of steep US tariffs risks undoing years of hard work, global market-building, and cultural promotion. Unless swift measures such as subsidies, alternative trade routes, or negotiations with the US are introduced, Gujarat’s iconic chaniya choli and handicraft exports may suffer losses that could take years to recover.