Indian industry groups challenge USTR Section 301 tariffs over supply chain risks

FICCI, CII, and other major bodies argue blanket duties lack evidence and threaten integrated US-India trade flows, adding to growing corporate pushback against the trade policy.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-09 14:13 UTC · 1 min read

Major Indian industry associations have formally challenged the United States Trade Representative’s proposed Section 301 tariffs, warning that the blanket duties lack an evidence base and risk disrupting deeply integrated supply chains between the two economies.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Association of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACMA), and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEAI) jointly argued that the tariffs are not grounded in sufficient data.

Indian officials have previously argued that the policy is inconsistent, noting that the US selectively exempts thousands of items its own economy relies on while targeting others.

They cautioned that the measures could destabilize trade flows that have become critical for both US and Indian businesses.

This industry pushback follows New Delhi’s earlier diplomatic criticism of the US approach to tariffs on goods linked to forced labor.

Indian officials have previously argued that the policy is inconsistent, noting that the US selectively exempts thousands of items its own economy relies on while targeting others.

The coordinated response from Indian business leaders mirrors a broader trend of corporate resistance to the Section 301 framework.