Fashion
Experts call for market diversification as US tariff heat rises
US President Donald Trump’s additional tariff of 25 per cent on Indian goods is set to take effect in a few days, even as Indian industries continue to grapple with the potential fallouts.
Sectors that are heavily reliant on exports to the US, chief among which is the textile and apparel sector, find themselves directly in the line of fire. The US remains one of the largest markets for Indian textiles, making the sector highly vulnerable to policy shifts like this one.
The US move to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, as noted in a Morgan Stanley report, could cut up to 80 basis points from India’s GDP growth over the next 12 months—unless offset by government measures, policies, and reforms, media reports underlined.
The textile industry, being one of the country’s largest employment generators and exporters, is expected to suffer a substantial setback. The readymade garments sector—which earns around 10–15 per cent of its revenue from the US, according to some estimates—risks losing competitiveness to competing countries.
The impact on home textiles and carpets could be more severe, claim industry insiders.
Experts are thus emphasising the urgent need for India to diversify its export markets. While the US has been a dominant trade partner, overdependence on a single country makes India’s apparel export sector more susceptible to shocks.
Experts suggest that India should expand its presence in regions like ASEAN, the European Union, Africa, Latin America, and also deepen ties with BRICS nations to cushion the blow.
Though some of these markets may not match the size of the US, diversification helps mitigate future risks and reduces vulnerability to geopolitical coercion. Experts underline that an aggressive pursuit of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and new strategic partnerships is now essential. They also point out that India’s ability to navigate this crisis will depend on policy agility, global alliances, and a recalibrated trade strategy.
And if recent media reports are something to go by, India is already ramping up efforts to expand its export outreach to a large number of countries. These initiatives are aimed at reducing reliance on any single market to insulate Indian exporters from future disruptions. Africa, for instance, is emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer regions, offering substantial opportunities across sectors.
Latin America also presents a promising avenue, not only for textiles but also for pharmaceuticals and chemicals exports.
India’s trade agreements with countries like UAE, Australia, etc., signed earlier, as well as the recent Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the UK, experts believe, could help Indian exporters find more resilient and sustainable revenue streams over the long term, even if some projections suggest that India’s exports to non-US markets could grow by 15–20 per cent annually over the next five years. If realised, this would significantly enhance India’s global trade position and reduce its overdependence on the US.
While it remains to be seen how quickly and successfully India can execute the diversification strategy, industry voices agree that it is no longer a matter of choice but a necessity. Even if trade talks with the US resume and a more favourable agreement is reached, exporters argue that the evolving global geopolitical landscape makes it imperative for India to build a wider and more balanced portfolio of export destinations.
The US has announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, posing a significant challenge to export-driven sectors, particularly those in the apparel and textiles domain.
According to some estimates, the US move to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent could cut up to 80 bp from India’s GDP growth over the next 12 months.
Experts stress the need for urgent market diversification.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)
China will step up building a higher-level China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Chinese President Xi Jinping said while holding talks with visiting Vietnamese President To Lam.
China and Vietnam are accelerating efforts to navigate bilateral trade towards a more balanced and sustainable course.
President Xi Jinping recently held talks with visiting Vietnamese President To Lam.
During the visit, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung called for a restructuring of production, trade and supply chains alongside stronger investment cooperation.
Xi said both countries should work together in their modernisation drive, accelerate the alignment of development strategies and prioritise infrastructure connectivity.
While meeting Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao during the state visit, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung called for a restructuring of production, trade and supply chains alongside stronger investment cooperation.
Wang said both sides should focus on implementing the high-level common perceptions, including raising bilateral trade turnover to $500 billion in future.
Hung urged China to expand imports of Vietnamese goods, broaden the list of products eligible for tariff preferences and further open its market. He also called for the mutual recognition of quarantine results for agro-forestry-fishery products, facilitation of Vietnamese exports via cross-border e-commerce, and expansion of Vietnam’s trade promotion offices across Chinese localities, according to a Vietnamese news agency.
China will continue to support Vietnam in setting up additional trade promotion offices, following those already established in Chongqing, Hangzhou and Haikou, Wang responded.
China also expressed readiness to support Vietnam’s stronger exports through cross-border e-commerce, encouraging greater visibility of the Vietnam National Pavilion on Chinese e-commerce platforms beyond JD.com to better promote Vietnamese products to Chinese consumers.
China has consistently been Vietnam’s largest trading partner and second-largest export market, while Vietnam continues to be China’s biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
British actors Simone Ashley and Tom Blyth star alongside models Alva Claire, Babacar N’Doye and Sacha Quenby and a cast of synchronised swimmers and divers.
Burberry’s High Summer 2026 campaign captures Britain’s nostalgic lido culture through a sunlit film featuring Simone Ashley and Tom Blyth.
Blending heritage check with pastel tones, the collection spans swimwear, relaxed tailoring, raffia bags and lightweight layers, evoking effortless, poolside summer style.
Directed by Francis Plummer, the campaign reflects a warm, communal British summer mood.
The campaign film is directed by Francis Plummer and shot by photographer Ryan McGinley. The cameras move from loungers to diving boards, catching mid-air dives and friends stretched out in the hazy afternoon light. Before long, the best spots by the pool are claimed with a Burberry towel. Summer has begun. The film is underscored by the TONE remix of ‘Beating’ by Tirzah.
‘A lido holds a particular kind of nostalgia for the British. The moment the sun comes out, we make the most of the weather. We wanted to bring to life a warm summer’s day spent in and around the water’s edge with friends.’ said Daniel Lee Chief Creative Officer, Burberry.
Key styles
The High Summer 2026 collection features the Burberry Check in heritage-inspired sand beige and pastel shades of aubergine purple and cornflower blue.
The iconic Burberry Check bikini is the beach essential, alongside matching swimsuits and men’s swim shorts trimmed with check.
Poolside separates include tops, skirts and shirts cut from cotton voile, plus cover-up dresses woven with a tonal Burberry Check and deckchair-inspired stripes. Ruffled trims and ties at the neckline capture the floaty, effortless feel of the collection. Festival
tank tops in ribbed cotton jersey are trimmed with check straps, while looks are wrapped in lightweight wool silk scarves.
For men, collared shirts and shorts are tailored to relaxed lines and finished with fresh interpretations of the Burberry Check, from textural weaves to intricate embroidered designs. The co-ord set is crafted from lightweight cotton poplin printed with a playful seahorse pattern in honeysuckle pink.
The classic cotton piqué polo shirt comes in a spectrum of vivid and neutral colours. Burberry Check is subtly placed at the placket and trims the collar of T-shirts in soft cotton jersey.
Lightweight hooded jackets are ideal for cooler evenings and unexpected showers, the new-season designs woven in aubergine purple and cornflower blue check.
In shoes, the new Knight Runner sneakers offer a streamlined, low-profile shape for summer. Sandals are elevated in the form of the whipstitched leather Baez and check-trimmed suede Urchin styles, while Burberry Check slides and Pavilion sandals are made for the beach.
Lightweight Margate bags are handcrafted in Madagascar from locally sourced raffia palm leaves, dyed in signature sand beige Burberry Check. Accessories include crocheted bucket hats and wraparound sunglasses, designed to shield from the sun.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)
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