The US govt’s proposed aluminium tariffs have sparked concern among handicraft exporters in Nagina, known for its finely carved wooden items. While the exact impact remains uncertain, exporters fear a dent in profits if the tariffs come into effect.
Some American buyers have already asked exporters to avoid using aluminium components in wooden items, anticipating a price hike. Exporters are also anxious about the possibility of unsold inventory piling up in warehouses.
Irshad Multani, president of the Nagina Craft Development Society, said the tariff could push up production costs by as much as 28%, dealing a direct blow to trade. “Prices in the US market will likely rise first, and that will affect our local business,” he said.
Handicraft trader Salim Multani, who primarily sells through Amazon, pointed out that one of their most popular items is a wooden clock with an aluminium dial. “Any price increase due to the tariff will impact sales,” he said.
Leading exporter Zulfikar Alam added that while the tariff hasn’t been implemented yet, it could slow down exports significantly once in place.
Nagina’s woodcraft tradition dates back to the Mughal era, when skilled carvers from Iran reportedly migrated to the region, drawn by the availability of high-quality Indian rosewood . The town soon gained renown for its intricately carved wooden decorative items—a legacy that endured through British rule and even survived the wave of cheap Chinese imports that devastated many traditional industries.
Today, artisans in Nagina craft a range of wooden products, including board games like dominoes and tic-tac-toe, puzzles, cribbage sets, jewellery boxes, flower vases, dry fruit boxes, ashtrays, pens, pen stands, file racks, watches, walking sticks, and even chicken-shaped items. But with aluminium components used in many of these products, the looming tariff could cast a shadow over the town’s export-dependent economy.