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Since 2018, when the U.S. pushed importers to seek "alternatives to China," India became a beneficiary of industrial relocation, with more and more American companies shifting orders to Southeast Asia. However, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse. Starting August 7, 2025, U.S. President Trump announced a 25% "reciprocal tariff" on Indian goods, followed by an additional 25% on August 27, as punishment for India¡¯s purchase of Russian crude oil. This means Indian exports to the U.S. will face tariffs as high as 50%, placing India in the same category as China and Brazil in terms of the highest U.S. tariff treatment.

The news sparked global outcry. TrumpVsIndia quickly topped Twitter trends. Indian netizens condemned "American double standards," while American users mocked the move as "the president going crazy yet again." This seemingly sudden tariff storm is actually the eruption of deep-seated U.S.-India contradictions, highlighting both the extreme nature of the "America First" policy and the last struggle of a hegemony gripped by anxiety.

The impact of tariffs on India¡¯s container shipping is mainly reflected in two aspects:

1. American companies¡¯ willingness to relocate production to India has been dampened, with policy uncertainty significantly increasing;

2. The price competitiveness of Indian goods has declined, directly suppressing U.S. buyers¡¯ import demand and hindering the growth of container cargo volumes.

Data shows that in the first half of 2025, the U.S. imported 6.5 million tons of containerized goods from India, a year-on-year increase of 9%, accounting for 6% of total U.S. container imports (by weight). The main imported categories are similar to those from Europe, primarily building materials, auto parts, and food, with a lower proportion of industrial finished products.

Under the tariff impact, several pillar industries of the Indian economy have been precisely hit:

• Textiles: Apparel exports to the U.S. account for about 15% of total exports, with an estimated order loss rate of up to 30%;

• Jewelry: As the largest market for Indian diamonds, the U.S. tariff hike could cause industry losses of $4 billion;

• Pharmaceuticals: Exports to the U.S. account for 25% of industry revenue, and corporate profits may be compressed by 50%.

On the other hand, the tariff war is also accelerating India¡¯s "de-dollarization" process.

The Indian government has launched several countermeasures and self-rescue initiatives:

1. Plans to invest 500 billion rupees over three years to build semiconductor factories;

2. Provides 20% export subsidies for strategic industries such as electric vehicles and solar panels;

3. Signs local currency settlement agreements with the UAE and Australia to promote the internationalization of the rupee.