In an interview with PTI, Sitharaman stated varied industries are sharing the affect with the involved departments or ministries because the second half (25 per cent) of the tariff kicked in from August 27.
“So, we're getting their inputs…one thing is being labored out to do some hand-holding for these exporters who've been affected by the US tariff of fifty per cent,” she stated.
“Until the time we get that evaluation, how can we assume how a lot the affect is? So each respective ministry is chatting with their stakeholders and asking for an evaluation of ‘Kitne Tak Apke Upar Iska Asar Padega' (how a lot would be the affect). We should see,” she stated.
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The tariffs – among the many highest on the planet – embrace a 25 per cent penalty for getting crude oil from Russia. On August 7, the Trump administration enforced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian items, citing India's persistent oil imports from Russia and long-standing commerce obstacles.
The sectors that are impacted because of excessive import duties embrace labour-intensive segments comparable to textiles/ clothes, gems and jewelry, shrimp, leather-based and footwear, animal merchandise, chemical substances, and electrical and mechanical equipment.
Sectors comparable to pharma, power merchandise and digital items are out of the ambit of those sweeping duties.
The US accounted for about 20 per cent of India's USD 437.42 billion value of products exports in 2024-25.
The US has been the most important buying and selling companion of India since 2021-22. In 2024-25, the bilateral commerce in items stood at USD 131.8 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports and USD 45.3 billion imports).
Calling the landmark GST overhaul a ‘folks's reform', Sitharaman stated that rationalisation of tax charges for a large swath of merchandise will profit each household, increase consumption, and bolster the financial system.
The finance minister stated she's going to personally monitor passing on of products and providers tax (GST) price cuts within the type of worth discount, whilst a number of the industries have already introduced worth moderation.
Inside days of the choice, from automobile makers to public sector insurance coverage firms and shoe and attire manufacturers have already introduced vital worth cuts, and the remainder are prone to observe go well with by the point new GST charges are carried out, she stated.
Practically 400 merchandise – from soaps to vehicles, shampoos to tractors and air conditioners – will price much less when the rejig of the GST is efficient from the primary day of Navaratri on September 22. Premium paid on particular person well being and life insurance coverage might be tax-free. A 3rd slab of 40 per cent tax has been earmarked for a small record of sin items and ultra-luxury gadgets.
“It is a reform which touches the lives of all 140 crore folks. There is no such thing as a particular person on this nation who's untouched by GST. The poorest of the poor even have one thing small that they purchase, touched by GST,” she stated.
Beginning September 22, the GST slab construction will change – 5 per cent for frequent use items and 18 per cent for all the pieces else. The present slab of 12 per cent and 28 per cent charges has been executed away with.
Within the revamped GST construction, most every day meals and grocery gadgets will fall beneath the 5 per cent GST slab, with bread, milk and paneer attracting no tax in any respect.
Sitharaman stated the reform – the only largest because the 2017 roll-out of the one-nation, one tax regime – has been carried out with a concentrate on the frequent man. Each tax on daily-use gadgets has gone by a rigorous evaluate, and most often, the charges have come down drastically.