India says 45% of US-bound exports remain outside new Section 301 tariffs

A 10% additional duty will apply to 55% of India’s exports to the US from July 24, while pharmaceuticals and smartphones are among exempt categories. India’s textiles, apparel, leather and footwear retain a tariff edge over rivals facing 12.5%.

— Source publishedSat, 25 Jul, 2026, 22:10 IST·First seen Sat, 25 Jul, 2026, 22:15 IST·Source Financial Express · BrandWagon

What happened

Ministry of Commerce and Industry · India says 45% of exports to the US, including generic drugs and smartphones, avoid new Section 301 duties. A 10% tariff on

Key facts

  • 45% of India's exports to the US remain outside the additional Section 301 duty
  • 55% of exports will attract an additional 10% duty
  • Additional tariff reduced to 10% from a proposed 12.5%
  • China, Vietnam, Thailand and Türkiye face 12.5% tariffs
  • Section 301 measures cover 60 economies
  • India is among 17 countries receiving lower tariffs

Why this matters

US brands and retailers have a stronger case to pursue sourcing partnerships or supplier investments in India, especially in exempt pharmaceuticals and smartphones and relatively advantaged soft-goods categories.