The EU-India FTA offers a significant boost to India’s gems and jewellery industry through reduced tariffs, easier market access, and improved competitiveness in Europe. The pact is expected to accelerate exports, attract investment, strengthen manufacturing, and reinforce India’s position as a trusted global sourcing hub for premium jewellery, says Suneeta Kaul.

Union Budget 2026-27 makes a strong push for MSMEs, with a Rs 10,000-crore SME Growth Fund; besides, it enables faster payments via mandatory TReDS for CPSE purchases. Overall, the Budget emphasizes fiscal prudence, infrastructure creation, and ease of doing business. For a sector navigating global uncertainty, shifting consumer preferences, and rising compliance standards, it is stability that the enabler.

In spite of an 8.76% dip in cut and polished diamond exports during April-November 2025, GJEPC remains optimistic about India’s export performance in 2026. The Council is looking forward to the BTA with the US, and should that take longer than expected, it will take all necessary measures in coordination with the government and stakeholders to support exports, and ensure continued growth, says Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC, in a conversation with Suneeta Kaul.

With the steep Trump tariffs now having come into play, the cutting, polishing, manufacturing and export hubs of India are facing severe problems, with joblessness and unit-closure a distinct possibility. The silver lining is that the GJEPC is hopeful of a solution, particularly in view of the advocacy efforts of its US counterparts, who are also working hard to impress upon the Trump administration that the high tariffs will have a deleterious effect on the US jewellery industry as well. In a free-wheeling conversation with Suneeta Kaul, Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC, talks about the impact of the tariffs, the steps being taken to bring about some relief to the industry, its expectation from the government, and more.

The global diamond and jewellery trade is rallying to secure an exemption from steep new US import duties that threaten to disrupt supply chains and drive up prices.

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) met on Friday to address the sharp rise in US tariffs on Indian jewellery, which now stand at 25%–32%, threatening the export segment. Discussions covered the scale of the impact, the need to explore legal and operational intricacies, and long-term strategies to protect the sector.

India’s gems and jewellery sector faced a sharp setback in May 2025, with exports falling by 15.81% year-on-year. New US tariff measures and weak global demand hit key segments like cut and polished diamonds and lab-grown diamonds, even as gold jewellery showed positive growth amid geopolitical uncertainties

Move aims to ease trade tensions and gain relief from potential US tariff hikes

Domestic gold prices have declined 3.6 per cent since its peak of Rs 39,031/10g on September 4, taking cue from global prices