US Slaps 50% Tariff on India; Walmart, Amazon, Target Halt Orders — Trade Could Plunge 50%

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a major blow to India-US trade relations, top American retail giants including Walmart, Amazon, Target, and Gap have suspended orders from India after the US imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods. Indian exporters had feared this outcome, warning that the tariff hike would hit orders hard.

Reports suggest American buyers have sent letters and emails to Indian suppliers, instructing them to halt garment shipments until further notice. US companies are pressuring Indian exporters to absorb the increased costs caused by the tariffs. The price of Indian goods in the US market is expected to rise by 30–35%.

Leading exporters like Welspun Living, Gokaldas Exports, Indo Count, and Trident — which rely on the US for 40–70% of their sales — are among the worst hit. Experts predict a 40–50% drop in bilateral trade, with Bangladesh and Vietnam likely to snatch India’s lost orders due to their lower tariffs of just 20%.

India has strongly opposed the Trump administration’s move, calling it “irrational,” but the US remains firm. Trade experts say the standoff is unlikely to end until a new trade deal is reached.