Exporters from Tiruppur met Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday, seeking urgent relief measures after US President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on goods exported from India to the US from August 27. Knitwear exports from Tiruppur to the US are worth Rs 2,000 crore, with the US accounting for nearly 35% of the district’s total exports of Rs 44,747 crore in the last financial year.
Tiruppur Exporters’ Association (TEA) leaders warned that US buyers have begun asking exporters to hold previously placed orders due to the higher duty, potentially leading to company closures and job losses. They requested a two-year moratorium on MSME exporters’ loan repayments, a special emergency credit facility, subsidies to access alternative markets, reinstatement of the 5% interest subvention scheme, separate banking policies for MSMEs, and liberalised import norms for synthetic yarn.
TEA joint secretary Kumar Duraiswamy said the tariff will severely impact Tiruppur’s 10 lakh workers, 2,500 companies, and 20,000 ancillary units, forcing heavy discounts and shipment delays. The Chief Minister assured that steps would be taken on their demands.