The Manmade and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council (MATEXIL) is pleased to announce the appointment of Shaleen Toshniwal as its new Chairman, effective 30th March 2025. He succeeds Shri Bhadresh Dodhia, the outgoing Chairman.
MATEXIL, functioning under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, is dedicated to promoting the exports of manmade fibre textiles and technical textiles, including fibres, yarns, fabrics, made-ups, and home textiles.
Shaleen Toshniwal brings with him over 23 years of extensive experience in the textiles and clothing sector. He currently serves as the Joint Managing Director of Banswara Syntex Ltd., where he oversees the company’s exports of yarn, fabrics, and garments, along with handling human resources and general management. His deep domain expertise spans dyed synthetic spinning, woven and knitted fabric production, and garment manufacturing.
Speaking on the leadership transition, Bhadresh Dodhia, Immediate Past Chairman of MATEXIL, stated, “Shri Toshniwal’s expertise, vision, and leadership will undoubtedly play a vital role in driving the growth of exports across the entire value chain of manmade fibre textiles and technical textiles.”
With Shaleen Toshniwal at the helm, MATEXIL is poised to strengthen its efforts in enhancing India’s position as a key player in the global manmade and technical textiles market.
Source: Fashion Business
Developed countries are easing their stance on including non-trade issues like sustainability and environment in free trade agreement negotiations with India. This shift may help ongoing trade talks with the EU and UK. India prefers discussing nontrade issues at international platforms specifically meant for them. The EU's trade barriers like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism are now less emphasized. India has always maintained that non-trade issues like sustainability, labour and environment should be addressed at international platforms specifically meant for them.
Source: The Economic Times
Indian customs authorities are speeding up US-bound shipments to beat the April 9 deadline for a 26% reciprocal tariff announced by the Trump administration. Exporters are fast-tracking consignments to minimize costs due to new tariffs. Authorities aim for smooth clearances, especially for perishable items, as goods exports growth is crucial for future fiscal targets.
Source: The Economic Times
Kaushik Basu, ex-World Bank chief economist, finds the US's new reciprocal tariff of 26% on India baffling, arguing it will harm the US more. He suggests India should focus on enhancing trade with Europe, Canada and China. Basu also views the situation as a potential long-term opportunity for India to grow its trade, especially with China.
Source: The Economic Times
India's exports to the US from sectors like marine items, gold, and electronics are projected to decline by USD 5.76 billion due to increased American tariffs. Some sectors, such as textiles and pharmaceuticals, might achieve modest gains. The US has implemented additional duties, significantly impacting India's trade dynamics. India's exports to the United States could decline by $5.76 billion this year due to higher American tariffs on a wide range of goods, according to an analysis by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).
Source: The Economic Times
India a winner in tariff war: Official
India is positioned favorably in the US tariff war with lower duties than competitors like China and Vietnam. Ongoing BTA negotiations with the US offer potential for further tariff reduction on Indian exports. India has emerged as a winner in the escalating global tariff war unleashed by the US, with lower duties than its competitors, a senior official said on April 5, 2025. India also has an early-mover advantage as it has already initiated discussions on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) that will give a chance to bring down duties on Indian exports to the US down from the current levels, the official added.
Source: The Financial Express
The Rajasthan government on April 5, 2025, implemented the Textile and Apparel Policy 2025 amid US reciprocal tariffs. The new policy is poised to play a pivotal role in establishing Rajasthan as a modern centre for textile and apparel manufacturing. An official claimed that in light of evolving global trade dynamics - particularly the recent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US - the policy is expected to be a game-changer for textile exporters in the state.
Source: Social News
Criticising the recent US decision to cancel duty-free treatment for low-value packages from China, the China National Light Industry Council said the move disrupts normal trade order between both countries, affects global industrial cooperation and undermines the rights and interests of consumers on both sides. Terming it a ‘self-defeating action’, the industry group said the move not only undermines the stability of global industrial and supply chains for light industrial consumer goods (which includes textiles), but ultimately harms the interests of all parties, including the United States.
Source: Fibre2fashion
A Tunisian Canadian networking mission dedicated to technical textiles will take place from April 3 to 8, 2025, in Montréal and Toronto, with the participation of a dozen Tunisian exporting companies, announced the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ).
Organized under the Qualitative Growth for Employment (CQE) project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU), and implemented by GIZ, the mission will enable Tunisian companies to engage in B2B meetings during the Canada International Textile & Apparel Expo (April 7-8, 2025).
Source: African Manager
