New Delhi [India], October 1 (ANI): Indian wooden merchandise and furnishings exporters will grow to be way more aggressive within the US market, as tariffs on this class can be slashed from 50 per cent to 10-25 per cent after the most recent tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump on wooden merchandise, mentioned coverage assume tank GTRI.
‘For India, the change is a serious aid,’ Ajay Srivastva of GTRI mentioned in a be aware, including that decrease tariffs might make India a cheap various for US patrons in furnishings and cabinetry, doubtlessly boosting Indian exports in FY2026.
President Trump, on September 29, 2025, issued a Section 232 Proclamation imposing new tariffs on softwood lumber (HS 4407), upholstered furnishings (HS 9401), and kitchen cupboards and vanities (HS 9403).
Section 232 tariffs prevail over country-specific tariffs. For instance, when tariffs on India had been 25 per cent previous to the penalty of 25 per cent tariff on account of shopping for of Russian oil, India and others had been nonetheless paying a 50 per cent tariff on the export of Steel to the US.
The new tariffs on wooden merchandise and furnishings vary from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, changing the present 50 per cent duties India faces.
The UK can be capped at 10 per cent, whereas the EU and Japan will face a mixed charge not exceeding 15 per cent, reflecting their commerce offers
GTRI added that the discount will considerably give respite as India’s exports of affected merchandise totalled USD 654.8 million in FY2025, together with USD 568.3 million in kitchen cupboards, USD 83.3 million in upholstered furnishings, and USD 3.2 million in softwood lumber.
India’s softwood lumber exports value USD 3.2 million will now face a diminished tariff of 10 per cent, down from 50 per cent. Upholstered furnishings, with exports of USD 83.3 million, and kitchen cupboards and vanities, the most important section at USD 568.3 million, will each see tariffs lowered from 50 per cent to 25 per cent, enhancing India’s competitiveness within the US market. (ANI)