Outlook Business Desk
Ajay Sahai, director general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), said Indian exports could see gains of around $2.5–3 bn after the United States granted tariff exemptions.
High-value agricultural exporters are expected to see the quickest gains as many food items have been removed from the affected list. This shift allows stronger opportunities in premium, speciality and value-added segments, and more.
The move, Ajay Sahai said, helps exporters shift towards higher-value segments, offering better protection from pricing pressures while supporting growing consumer demand in the United States market.
Products like coffee, cashew nuts, tea and spices are set to gain immediate price advantages following the tariff rollback. Officials believe this shift will help farmers and exporters by improving margins and regaining lost competitiveness and more.
Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative, said India has only a minor presence in many exempted categories like citrus fruits, melons, tomatoes and juices, which limits the overall gains and more.
Despite the limitations, India is expected to reinforce its hold in spices and niche horticulture, which Srivastava said could help revive demand that weakened after tariff hikes reduced shipments and profitability for exporters.
Analysts believe the exemptions could provide momentum to the ongoing India–United States bilateral trade agreement talks. The relief comes after months of pressure created by tariff rates rising to 50%, which reduced India’s export share and more.
By September 2025, India’s exports to the United States fell to $5.43bn, nearly 12% lower after tariffs rose from 25% to 50%. Farm shipments, worth $5.7bn in 2024, were the hardest hit.