Parliamentary panel to review U.S. tariff impact in Tamil Nadu

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce will visit Tamil Nadu this week to review the impact of United States (U.S.) tariff measures on businesses in the State. The team will spend one day in Chennai, followed by a day in Coimbatore.

“The team will interact with trade bodies and industry associations to study the impact of the U.S. tariffs. In Chennai, it will meet representatives of the automobile sector, and in Coimbatore, it will interact with the heads and representatives of the textile sector,” said V. Arun Roy, Secretary, Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department.

The U.S. tariffs have impacted sectors such as leather, apparel, and textiles in Tamil Nadu — industries that employ a large number of women workers. In December 2025, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the damage caused by the tariffs. In his letter, he pointed out that the tariffs are squeezing profit margins and compelling exporters to offer deep discounts just to retain their clientele, thus eroding their competitiveness and viability. “The ripple effects are profound: lakhs of jobs hang in the balance, with the sectors already witnessing lay-offs and wage deferrals that threaten the stability of entire communities. Worse still, international buyers are rapidly diverting orders to competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, which have a current tariff advantage over us,” Mr. Stalin added.