Kashmir carpet weavers demand higher import duties to protect handmade craft
Srinagar, Sep 12: As machine-made carpets from Turkey, Iran, and other countries flood the market, Kashmir’s centuries-old hand-knotted carpet industry is sounding the alarm. Local weavers warn that the cheaper imports are not only eating into their orders but also threatening the survival of a craft that supports thousands of families across the Valley.
Artisans say the problem has intensified in recent months. In July, a machine-made carpet was allegedly sold to a customer as an authentic Kashmiri handmade product, sparking outrage among the weaving community.
Mohammad Yousuf, a veteran carpet weaver from Srinagar, said, “We invest months in making a single handmade carpet. When machine-made carpets are sold as Kashmir handmade, it not only undermines our work but also affects our income and reputation. We need urgent protection from such unfair competition.”
Sheikh Ashiq, member of the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), highlighted that the Directorate of Handicrafts has issued a circular instructing handicraft showrooms to sell only handmade products. “Machine-made carpets have no place in these outlets, yet the guidelines are often ignored,” he said.
“The Carpet Export Promotion Council has taken up the issue with the Union Commerce Ministry, and we have received assurances about increasing import duties on machine-made carpets. This is essential to protect the livelihoods of thousands of weavers and preserve the authenticity of Kashmiri craftsmanship.”
The issue has also reached the national stage.
According to a CEPC statement, a high-level delegation led by Member of Parliament Dr. Vinod Kumar Bind from Bhadohi, along with CEPC Chairman Kuldeep Raj Wattal and senior members of the council, met Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Thursday to present the urgent challenges facing the Indian handmade carpet sector. The delegation stressed that over 20 lakh weavers, including thousands from Jammu and Kashmir, depend on the industry for their livelihood.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Bind said, “Safeguarding this heritage craft is not just a matter of trade but a socio-economic imperative. We are talking about rural employment, women empowerment, and preserving India’s cultural identity. Immediate intervention is required to protect jobs and prevent skill erosion in our clusters.”
The delegation highlighted multiple challenges, including the recent U.S. tariff escalation, which has raised import duties on Indian carpets to nearly 50 percent, leading to order cancellations, reduced exports, and distress migration of weavers. They also flagged delays in the Export Promotion Mission Scheme and called for urgent relief measures such as a special bailout package, income tax exemptions, increased duty drawback rates, extension of the Interest Equalisation Scheme, and exemptions on interest-free packing credit.
With thousands of families dependent on carpet weaving, artisans and industry representatives are pressing for policy measures, stricter enforcement of showroom guidelines, and higher tariffs on machine-made imports to preserve the craft, protect jobs, and ensure the survival of this globally renowned heritage industry.
