The 25 per cent tariff by the US comes as a temporary setback, especially when expectations were set around 15–20 per cent. While it might lead to a slowdown in the short term, we believe it’s not a long-lasting disruption. Our Free Trade Agreement with the UK opens up varied opportunities and is a welcoming move for the industry. India’s capacity and trained labour constraints remain, what will set us apart is focus on the UK market to ensure sustained business. Indian entrepreneurs and manufacturers are resilient, and we are confident that business momentum will be consistently rising with planned strategies. What remains crucial is clarity on the tariff position against China. A more pressing concern is the undefined penalty clause linked to India’s ties with Russia, which adds a layer of uncertainty.
The above view is presented by Rajeev Gupta, Joint Managing Director, RSWM