Tariff crisis looms over carpet industry

In India's carpet city and its twin to the south of Mirzapur, 800,000 people directly employed by carpet making units, another 1.2 mn are indirectly employed.

Aslam Mehboob, a carpet factory owner in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi town, is worried about his future. The 55-year-old runs a ₹10 crore business that exports 3,000 hand-knotted carpets every year. His biggest market:  the US.

Weavers give finishing touches to carpets at a unit in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi. (HT PHOTO)

Mehboob’s factory, Alam Rugs, employed 30 people just two months ago. Today, it has dwindled to 10 as the industry faces uncertainty.

“All handmade carpet manufacturers are tense due to the tariff. It has caused uncertainty in the handmade carpet sector. Consequently, carpet makers