Tariffs, Textiles, and the Reality Check: Why India Still Holds the Structural Edge

How a narrow zero-tariff carve-out for Bangladesh doesn’t overturn India’s deeper trade fundamentals.

Recent reports on US trade adjustments involving India and Bangladesh have created the impression that Bangladesh has leapfrogged India—especially in textiles—by securing a zero-tariff route into the American market.

That conclusion, however, rests more on headline optics than on trade mechanics. A closer reading of the tariff structure reveals a far more nuanced reality—one in which India’s position remains structurally intact, while Bangladesh’s apparent advantage is conditional, narrow, and cost-intensive.

Metric	India (Feb 2026 Deal)	Bangladesh (Feb 2026 Deal)
Base Reciprocal Tariff	18%	19%
Zero-Tariff Window	Only on select items (Gems, Pharma)	Conditional (Linked to US Cotton)
Raw Material Source	Domestic (Integrated)	Import Dependent

Why “Zero Tariff” Is Not Zero Cost

To qualify for duty-free access under the new agreement, Bangladeshi manufacturers must import cotton or synthetic fibers directly from the US. This introduces three immediate friction points:

• Absorption of higher raw-material prices: US cotton often commands a premium over regional Indian or local supplies.
• Logistics Lag: Managing trans-oceanic shipping cycles adds weeks to the production timeline.
• Working Capital: Higher upfront costs for imported inputs strain the liquidity of smaller garment units.

"Tariffs matter—but total landed cost matters more. For a producer in Tirupur, the vertical integration of Indian supply chains remains a formidable barrier for any tariff-exempt competitor to overcome."

Supply Chain Depth: The Quiet Advantage

India’s textile sector is a fully realized ecosystem spanning raw cotton, yarn, fabric, and final assembly. Bangladesh, while globally competitive in assembly, remains a "processing hub." By shifting their sourcing from nearby India to the distant US to chase a tariff break, Dhaka increases its execution risk.

Diversification as Risk Absorption

While Bangladesh is heavily concentrated in garments (over 80% of exports), India’s US-facing basket is significantly broader:

Gems & Jewellery Engineering Goods Generic Pharma (0% Tariff) Footwear

Conclusion: Structure Outlasts Headlines

This is not a story of Bangladesh overtaking India. It is a story of a narrowly defined trade concession with built-in cost offsets. India continues to operate from a position of domestic raw-material strength and lower standard tariffs across a more resilient export basket.

— SumanSpeaks | International Trade & Markets.