Parliamentary panel to review U.S. tariff impact in Tamil Nadu

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce will visit Tamil Nadu this week to examine the impact of United States (US) tariff measures on businesses in the state. The team will spend one day in Chennai and then one day in Coimbatore.

“The team will interact with trade bodies and industry associations to study the impact of US tariffs. It will meet automobile industry representatives in Chennai and interact with heads and representatives of the textile industry in Coimbatore,” said V. Arun Roy, Secretary, Department of Industry, Investment Promotion and Commerce.

US tariffs have affected industries such as leather, garments and textiles in Tamil Nadu, which employ large numbers of women workers. In December 2025, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the damage caused by tariffs. In his letter, he stated that tariffs squeeze profit margins and force exporters to offer huge discounts just to protect their customers, thus eroding their competitiveness and viability. “The ripple effects are profound: Hundreds of thousands of jobs hang in the balance, with industries already witnessing layoffs and wage deferrals that threaten the stability of entire communities. Worse still, international buyers are quickly redirecting orders to competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and Cambodia, who have existing customs advantage over us,” he added.