Govt may line up four schemes to soften tariff blow

Cabinet likely to take up proposal today

- SHREYA NANDI, HARSH KUMAR & ASIT RANJAN MISHRA

The government is likely to announce up to four schemes, including credit-related support measures, to help exporters hit by the 50 per cent punitive tariff imposed by the Donald Trump administration on Indian-origin products.

"The Cabinet may take up the proposal on Wednesday. It will be in line with the credit guarantee schemes announced during the Covid period, especially for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),"" a government official said, requesting anonymity.

The measures are expected to tackle liquidity challenges faced by small exporters in labour-intensive sectors, ease pressure on working capital, protect jobs and enable firms to sustain operations until new markets are found.

Among the most vulnerable are textiles and apparel, gems and jewellery, leather and footwear, chemicals and engineering goods, and agriculture and marine exports.