Srinagar: The Kashmir handmade carpet and handicraft sector has welcomed the India–US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), describing it as a major step towards easing long-standing tariff barriers and improving the global competitiveness of Kashmiri exports.
Sheikh Ashiq, a member of the Committee of Administration of the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) and former president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), said the agreement would prove to be a transformative development for the region’s traditional industries, which are closely linked to Kashmir’s cultural heritage.
Kashmir contributes significantly to India’s handmade carpet exports, with nearly 60 per cent of the country’s shipments going to the United States, the largest export destination for Indian carpets. Along with the European Union, the US remains a critical market for Kashmiri artisans known for producing intricate, hand-knotted carpets.
Ashiq expressed gratitude to the Government of India for its diplomatic efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh. He said the sector hoped the agreement would lead to further easing of trade barriers in the future, benefiting not only carpets but the wider handicraft industry in Kashmir.
CEPC Chairman Captain Mukesh Gombar said that while free trade agreements with the European Union and the United Kingdom had provided partial relief to the sector, the India–US agreement had brought “unprecedented cheer.” He noted that tariffs on Indian handmade carpets had been rolled back to 18 per cent from earlier levels of up to 50 per cent, restoring competitiveness in the US market and reviving confidence among exporters and buyers.
CEPC Vice Chairman Aslam Mahboob said the industry was closing the current financial year on a positive note and entering the new financial year with key policy issues addressed. He said the trade agreements were expected to have a strong positive impact on India’s USD 2 billion handmade carpet industry and directly benefit nearly 2.5 million artisans across the country.
Meanwhile, CEPC Executive Director (officiating) Dr Smita Nagarkoti said the Council would undertake structured outreach and awareness programmes for exporters and stakeholders to familiarise them with opportunities, compliance requirements and procedural aspects under the India–UK and India–EU trade agreements, to ensure the benefits reach the grassroots level.
The Carpet Export Promotion Council said it would continue to work in partnership with the Government of India to leverage the trade agreements for export growth, higher artisan incomes in Kashmir and to strengthen India’s global leadership in handmade carpets.
