CEPC demands reciprocal tariffs on Turkey carpets

VARANASI : Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) has demaned Govt to impose reciprocal tariffs on machine-made carpets imported from Turkiye to ensure fair protection for Indian carpets in the domestic market. CEPC also discussed how tariffs imposed by Trump administration on Indian handmade carpets weakened their global competitiveness.

CEPC Director Shri Sanjay Kumar Gupta said, “With demands including imposing reciprocal tariffs on import of Turkiye’s machine-made carpets, a delegation of the council led by its Chairman Kuldeep R Wattal met Minister of State for Commerce Shri Jitin Prasada, in the presence of Bhadohi MP Vinod Bind in New Delhi recently. It was a crucial meeting as many important issues of the carpet industry were pressed.”
“We urged govt to step ahead for imposing reciprocal tariffs on machine-made carpets imported from Turkiye to ensure fair protection for Indian carpets in the domestic market,” said Gupta, adding that the reason behind this demand was ground realities of bilateral carpet trade between India and Turkiye. The basic customs duty on machine-made carpets and other textile floor coverings from Turkiye imported into India is 20%, he said, adding, however, Turkiye imposes a 46% duty on import of Indian carpets.

CEPC members are not only worried because the reciprocal tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump will increase the cost of carpets for American buyers, but other major exporters of carpets, including Turkiye, which have a lower US tariff compared to India, will gain an advantage. Gupta said the cottage industry of carpet weaving generates employment for not only thousands of weavers and artisans but also farmers, who work on looms part-time for weaving.

CEPC also raised the issues of the revival of the interest subvention scheme and highlighted the impracticality of the provision under Section 43B(H) of the Income Tax Act, which mandates payments to MSMEs within 45 days. They also requested the allocation of separate HS codes for handmade and machine-made carpets, which would enhance global transparency and give distinctive recognition to Indian craftsmanship.The delegation included Ashfaque Ahmad Ansari, Umesh Shukla, Sattar Ansari, Aseem Ansari (Bobby), Sadiq Ansari and Shahid Ansari.