New 50% tariffs put Bikaner wool industry in crisis

The wool industry in Bikaner, Rajasthan is facing hardships due to the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US. An important hub for wool production in western Rajasthan, Bikaner’s wool exports to the US are estimated at over Rs 1,000 crore annually. The tariff has severely impacted demand, with reports of a drastic drop in orders.

It is feared the high tariffs could lead to large-scale unemployment among the region's skilled artisans, many of whom have been in the trade for generations. The Bikaner wool industry is a major source of rural employment, and business leaders warn, the tariff could lead to factory closures and force many workers to abandon their craft.

 The crisis is not limited to Bikaner. The tariff has put the entire Indian handmade carpet industry, which employs an estimated 30 lakh people, at risk. Another major carpet hub, Bhadohi has reported that nearly 85 per cent of US orders have been put on hold.