Tamil Nadu holds exporter talks amid 50% US tariffs, CM Stalin calls move ‘imperialist conspiracy’
TRB Rajaa, TN Industries Minister
| Photo Credit:
SRINATH M
With the proportion of the State’s exports to the US higher than India’s share of exports to the country, the Tamil Nadu government held discussions with exporters based in the State on Wednesday to tackle the global trade wars, particularly in light of US President Donald Trump’s recent 50 per cent tariffs.
“In the midst of significant shifts in global trade flows, it is imperative for us to listen directly to our exporters, understand the hurdles in their paths and calibrate our policy response to safeguard their competitiveness….Today’s meeting with exporters from key sectors like textiles, automobiles, gems & jewellery, heavy engineering, electronics, and more, was a reaffirmation of that approach,” TN Industries minister TRB Rajaa said in a post on X.
31% of TN exports target US
31% of TN’s exports go to the US, while India’s overall exports to the US stand at 20 per cent only, he added.
The representatives were from sectors such as textiles, automobiles, gems & jewellery, heavy engineering, and electronics.
Government aims for swift policy action and structural fixes
“While we look to the Union Government to chart national trade policy that cushions our exporters from severe shocks – and we stand shoulder to shoulder with them in that endeavour – our responsibility as one of India’s largest exporter state is to act quickly, decisively, and in close coordination with industry,” he added.
The minister further said that the government is also taking this as an opportunity to identify structural fixes that will serve exporters in the long term. “This is to ensure that Tamil Nadu, as India’s export engine, remains strong and future-ready, he said. More such consultations are lined up in the coming days,” he said.
CM Stalin condemns US tariffs
Rajaa’s interactions with the exporters come a day after Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday said that the US imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on India is an “imperialist conspiracy” and should be strongly opposed by the BJP government in the Centre.
The BJP government at the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should give a clear answer on this, said CM Stalin.
Published on August 13, 2025
