PTI New Delhi

Goods from sectors, including agriculture, precious stones, chemicals, pharma, medical devices, electricals, and machinery, may get impacted if the US goes ahead with imposing reciprocal tariffs on Indian products, according to experts.

They said these sectors could face additional customs duties from the Trump administration because of the high tariff differential or gap, which is the difference between the import duties imposed by the US and India on a product. At the broad sector level, the potential tariff gaps between India and the US vary across sectors.

The gap is 8.6 per cent for chemicals and pharmaceuticals; 5.6 per cent for plastics; 1.4 per cent for textiles and clothing; 13.3 per cent for diamonds, gold, and jewellery; 2.5 per cent for iron, steel, and base metals; 5.3 per cent for machinery and computers; 7.2 per cent for electronics; and 23.1 per cent for automobiles and auto components.

"The higher the tariff gap, the worse affected a sector could be," an exporter said. US President Donald Trump has said the tariff announcements, scheduled for early morning Thursday.

Govt sets up control room     

The government has set up a control room to monitor the announcements by US President Donald Trump regarding the imposition of reciprocal tariffs against key trading partners at 1.30 am (India time), source said. Senior officials from ministries including commerce and industry will be present in the control room for close watch of the announcements, they said.

According to trade experts, the duties could be announced either country wise of sector wise or at product level. The domestic industry and exporters have raised concerns over the possible impact of the US' reciprocal tariffs on India's exports as the duties could make the goods uncompetitive in the global markets.