Business
US tariffs impact on jobs: Nearly 3 lakh workers at risk in textiles and gems? Here’s what experts say – Times of India
The steep tariffs imposed on Indian exports to the US have triggered sharp debate among staffing specialists, with some flagging the risk of immediate job losses and others suggesting that India’s domestic demand and trade diversification could soften the blow.“The recent imposition of additional US tariffs is expected to have a direct and substantial impact on India’s employment landscape. This will especially impact those industries relying heavily on the US market for business continuity and growth,” Genius HRTech founder, chairman and managing director R P Yadav told PTI.
Yadav identified textiles, auto components, agriculture, and gems and jewellery as the most vulnerable sectors, warning that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will absorb the heaviest shock. He estimated that 2,00,000 to 3,00,000 jobs are at immediate risk, with textiles alone—being labour-intensive—potentially losing as many as 1,00,000 positions if the tariff regime remains in force for over six months.He further cautioned that gems and jewellery hubs in Surat and SEEPZ, Mumbai, could also face widespread job losses due to shrinking demand and rising costs in the US market.However, not all experts foresee an employment crisis. TeamLease Services Senior Vice President Balasubramanian Anantha Narayanan argued that India’s reliance on domestic consumption makes its job market less vulnerable than China’s.“At this point in time, we aren’t seeing any signs of a slowdown or loss of jobs. This also by extension means that our jobs are largely in service of domestic demand too, with the exception of some sectors like ITeS among others. Our exports to the USA are USD 87 billion, which is roughly about 2.2 per cent of our overall GDP. Largely pharma, electronics etc. won’t be affected for now, which will further limit the export exposure to industries such as textiles, gems and jewellery among others,” he said, quoted PTI.He also noted that the tariffs are yet to take effect, leaving space for possible negotiations. “On the other side, we’ve also had several positives by way of the recently closed FTA with the UK and other countries. Even if these US tariffs do come about, we’ll definitely figure out a way of redirecting or diversifying our trade to other markets. Therefore, at this point in time, we aren’t seeing any signs of a slowdown or loss of jobs. It’s an evolving situation and we’ll get to know more in due course of time,” Narayanan said.According to him, the broader drag on employment stems from global consumption slowdown, tariff uncertainties, and ongoing geopolitical conflicts.CIEL HR MD and CEO Aditya Mishra said the tariff scenario is unsettling exporters in sectors deeply tied to the American market—including electronics, textiles, gems and jewellery, auto components, leather, footwear, shrimp and engineering goods.“Even industries outside the direct tariff ambit, like pharmaceuticals, are feeling the ripple effect through costlier upstream chemicals and materials,” Mishra said. He added that uncertainty could persist through the third quarter of this financial year as negotiations unfold.While Mishra does not expect widespread layoffs, he noted that companies are already adopting cost-control measures—cutting discretionary spends, streamlining production, freezing hiring, and putting pressure on temporary and contractual roles. “The immediate pressure will be on temporary and contract roles, particularly shop-floor workers, artisans, sales and logistics staff, and some mid-level managers in export-led units. This will have a cascading effect on thousands of MSMEs in the supply chain, which collectively account for a large share of employment,” he warned.Mishra also pointed to potential spillover risks for IT and global capability centres (GCCs). “The IT sector is already experiencing slow spending and hiring, and this additional uncertainty could delay its recovery further. GCCs are likely to take a cautious approach to hiring and investments until there is greater clarity on trade negotiations and market stability. If the tariff situation persists, India’s market share in the US could shrink, leading to longer-term repercussions for exporters and the industries that depend on them,” he said.
Business
‘Why Are Americans Paying For AI In India?’: Trump’s Trade Advisor Raises Data Centre Energy Costs
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Peter Navarro questions US electricity powering AI services like ChatGPT for users in India, raising trade and energy concerns amid rising US electricity costs.
Peter Navarro questions US electricity powering AI services like ChatGPT for users in India, raising trade and energy concerns amid rising US electricity costs. (REUTERS/Kent Nishimura
US President Donald Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has ignited a fresh political and economic debate by questioning why American electricity and infrastructure are being used to power artificial intelligence services that cater to users overseas, particularly in India.
Speaking on the podcast Real America Voice with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, Navarro raised concerns about US-based AI platforms operating domestically while serving millions of users abroad. He singled out OpenAI’s popular chatbot ChatGPT, arguing that its growing global footprint has trade and energy implications for the United States.
“Why are Americans paying for AI in India?” Navarro asked during the discussion. “ChatGPT operates on US soil and uses American electricity, servicing large users of ChatGPT in India and China and elsewhere around the world.” According to him, this raises fundamental questions about whether US taxpayers and consumers should bear the cost of powering AI systems that primarily benefit foreign markets.
Focus on electricity costs and data centres
Navarro’s remarks come amid mounting concern in Washington over the rapid expansion of AI data centres, which require vast amounts of electricity to run powerful servers around the clock. He suggested that the boom in AI infrastructure is already contributing to higher power prices for American households.
“We’re looking very, very carefully at this whole problem of AI data centres driving up the cost of electricity for Americans,” Navarro said. “You can expect strong action from President Trump on this. So keep an eye on that.”
Trade tensions with India in the backdrop
Navarro’s statements come at a sensitive moment in US–India relations. Washington and New Delhi are engaged in trade talks following a downturn after the Trump administration imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian imports. This included a 25% additional duty linked to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, a move the US has criticised amid the war in Ukraine.
Navarro has been one of the most vocal critics of India’s energy policy. In earlier remarks, he accused New Delhi of indirectly financing Russia’s war effort in Ukraine by buying discounted Russian crude and reselling refined products at higher prices on the global market.
“When India buys Russian oil at a discount and then Indian refiners, in partnership with Russian refiners, sell it at a premium to the rest of the world, Russia uses that money to fund its war machine,” Navarro had said.
US government moves on AI and energy
Against this backdrop, the Trump administration on Friday announced plans to work with US states to ensure that the rapid growth of the AI sector does not result in higher electricity bills for millions of Americans. According to data from the Energy Information Administration, the average electricity bill in the US rose by 5% in October compared with the same period last year, heightening political sensitivity around energy costs.
AI companies have increasingly come under scrutiny for the environmental and economic impact of large-scale data centres, which consume enormous amounts of power and water.
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
January 18, 2026, 20:04 IST
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New Delhi: Silver prices have continued their remarkable rally, rising another 22 per cent in January so far, strengthening investor interest and keeping the white metal firmly in focus.
The sharp surge has helped silver emerge as the top performer among major asset classes, supported by strong demand and multiple positive global factors.
After an extraordinary 170 per cent rise earlier, MCX silver prices have maintained strong momentum this month.
From the April close of Rs 95,917, silver has climbed nearly 200 per cent to settle at Rs 2,87,762 on Friday, a performance usually associated with multibagger stocks rather than commodities.
Prices have also touched fresh record highs, with the latest peak of Rs 2,92,960 recorded last week.
As silver surged past earlier expectations much faster than anticipated, analysts have been quick to revise their targets upward.
Last year, domestic brokerages had projected silver prices at around Rs 1,10,000 by the end of the year, but those levels were crossed well before the midpoint.
The rally did not stop there, with prices going on to hit Rs 2,54,000, more than doubling earlier estimates.
As these above-ground reserves shrink, holders of physical silver are demanding higher prices, further pushing rates upward.
At the beginning of 2025, silver was largely overlooked by investors, with few expecting it to deliver such a sharp rally amid ongoing economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.
Adding to the bullish sentiment is a shift in global central bank behaviour. After accumulating significant quantities of gold over the past three years, central banks are now reported to be adding silver to their reserves as well.
This trend has provided additional support to prices, keeping MCX silver close to the Rs 3 lakh level.
With the latest close of Rs 2,87,762, silver is now just about 4.2 per cent away from crossing the Rs 3 lakh milestone.
New Delhi: The combined market valuation of three of India’s top companies surged by Rs 75,855.43 crore last week, even as the overall stock market showed a sluggish trend during the holiday-shortened week.
State Bank of India (SBI) and Infosys were the biggest gainers among the top firms. While the Sensex slipped 5.89 points, the Nifty inched up by 11.05 points over the week.
Commenting on Nifty technical outlook, an expert said that “immediate resistance is placed at 25,875, followed by 26,000 and 26,100 levels. On the downside, support is seen at 25,600 and 25,450.”
“A breakdown below 25,300 could intensify downside pressure and accelerate corrective moves. Given the prevailing volatility, a cautious approach with strict stop-loss discipline is advised,” an analyst stated.
Among the top companies, ICICI Bank, SBI, and Infosys recorded gains, while HDFC Bank, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finance, Hindustan Unilever, and Larsen & Toubro faced a combined erosion of Rs 75,549.89 crore in their market value.
Interestingly, the total loss of these seven companies was still slightly less than the total m-cap addition of the three gainers.
SBI emerged as the biggest gainer, with its market valuation jumping by Rs 39,045.51 crore to reach Rs 9,62,107.27 crore.
Infosys also saw a strong increase, with its m-cap rising by Rs 31,014.59 crore to Rs 7,01,889.59 crore.
ICICI Bank added Rs 5,795.33 crore, taking its market value to Rs 10,09,470.28 crore.
On the other hand, Larsen & Toubro’s market valuation fell by Rs 23,501.8 crore to Rs 5,30,410.23 crore, while HDFC Bank’s valuation dropped by Rs 11,615.35 crore to Rs 14,32,534.91 crore.
Bharti Airtel’s m-cap declined by Rs 6,443.38 crore to Rs 11,49,544.43 crore, Bajaj Finance saw a dip of Rs 6,253.59 crore to Rs 5,91,447.16 crore, Hindustan Unilever lost Rs 3,312.93 crore to stand at Rs 5,54,421.30 crore, and TCS’s valuation slipped by Rs 470.36 crore to Rs 11,60,212.12 crore.
After these movements, HDFC Bank remained the second most valued domestic company, followed by TCS, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, SBI, Infosys, Bajaj Finance, Hindustan Unilever, and Larsen & Toubro.
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