Apparel Exporters Anticipate Gains from Imminent India–US Interim Trade Deal

India’s apparel exporters are expressing optimism about the potential benefits from the upcoming India–US interim trade deal, which is expected to be announced on July 8. Sudhir Sekhri, Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), shared that the industry is hopeful that garment tariff reductions will be part of the initial agreement. Sekhri noted that Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has assured industry representatives that labour-intensive sectors such as apparel will be considered during the finalisation of the deal. While the apparel sector encompasses a wide range of tariff lines, even partial inclusion in the first phase is seen as a positive step forward. The industry has consistently advocated for tariff parity with competitors like Bangladesh and Vietnam, which benefit from lower or zero duties under their respective trade agreements with the US. A reduction in tariffs could help India’s apparel exports become more competitive in the US market and recover market share lost in recent years. The interim agreement is viewed as an important milestone towards the broader goal of reaching $500 billion in bilateral trade between India and the US by 2030. Apparel is identified as one of the sectors most likely to benefit from early tariff relief under the new arrangement.