Mohd Azhar, Vice President of the Indian Leather Products Association (ILPA), said that Kolkata is focused on leather handbags and that 80% leather bags made here in Kolkata are exported to international markets such as Germany, France, Italy, and Saudi Arabia.
Shamim Azad, a leather exporter, stated that the United Kingdom is currently experiencing a recession and had some work in the US, but it has completely "flopped" at present. He mentioned that the US customers have asked them to put the orders on hold due to the tariffs.
Indian leather exporters are facing serious challenges after the United States imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods, hitting an industry that depends on exports for 80 per cent of its business.
In a move to facilitate leather traders, the Union Government has removed key procedural restrictions applicable to the export of value-added leather products.