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China Warns of Export Struggles, Says 'Sky Will Not Fall'Amid the ongoing tariff tension with the United States, a spokesperson for China's customs department said on Monday that the country is under "severe" pressure in its export sector but the situation is not catastrophic."At present, China's exports are facing a complex and severe external situation, but 'the sky will not fall'," the spokesperson said, according to news agency Reuters. He also said that China is "actively building a diversified market, deepening cooperation with all parties in the supply chain," and added, "The important thing is that China's domestic demand market is broad."The comments come a day after US President Donald Trump said no country would be exempt from tariffs. "No one is getting 'exempt'... especially not China, which treats us the worst by far!" he posted on his Truth social platform.Trump's administration has been engaged in a trade conflict with China, in which the two countries impose tariffs on each other's goods. US tariffs on Chinese imports have reached 145 percent, while China has responded with a 125 percent tariff band on US products.On Friday, the US eased some pressure by announcing temporary tariff exemptions for products such as smartphones, laptops and semiconductors, many of which come from China. These exemptions are expected to benefit US tech firms such as Nvidia, Dell and Apple, which make many of their products in China.However, President Trump and his aides made clear that these exemptions are not permanent. Trump said on Sunday that the move was being misunderstood and that his administration was working on new tariffs that could apply to recently exempted items. He said, "The tariffs will be imposed in the near future."Earlier, China's Commerce Ministry reacted to the exemption, saying the move was only "a small step" and urged the US to "resolutely cancel" its entire tariff policy.Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned on Monday during a visit to Vietnam at the start of his Southeast Asia tour that protectionist policies "will serve no purpose."In an article published in a Vietnamese newspaper, Xi called on the two countries to "resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and cooperative international environment."He also reiterated China's stance that "there are no winners from a trade war and tariff war."read more :-Cotton- Production reduced and import requirement also doubled, loss in Maharashtra

Cotton Output Drops, Imports Double Amid Maharashtra LossBig news : This time the cotton season in India says a lot in terms of figures. On one hand, domestic production has decreased, on the other hand the need for imports has doubled and there has been a big decline in exports. All these changes can determine the direction of India's cotton market for 2024-25.Loss in Maharashtra, some relief from TelanganaThe Cotton Association of India has recently released its new estimate, according to which the total production of cotton in the country has now come down to 291.30 lakh bales. Earlier it was estimated to be 295.30 lakh bales. The biggest reason for this decline is Maharashtra, from where a loss of 5 lakh bales alone was recorded. This time in the state, neither the crop yield was good nor was the cultivation done as much as expected. Although an increase of 1 lakh bales has been registered from Telangana, but that too could not compensate for the loss.Imports reached 25 lakh bales by March itselfTo meet the domestic demand, India is now having to look towards foreign supplies. By the end of March itself, India had imported 25 lakh bales of cotton and it is estimated that this figure for the entire season can reach 33 lakh bales. Last year this number was only 15.20 lakh bales, meaning imports have almost doubled.This year India's total cotton supply, which includes both opening stocks and imports, has reached 306.83 lakh bales. But consumption is even more than that.read more :-Trump says 10% is tariff floor or pretty close, but there could be exceptions

Trump Suggests 10% Tariff Floor with Possible ExceptionsU.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that 10% is a tariff floor, or pretty close, and that there could be a couple of exceptions. He also told that he thought something positive would come out with China“There could be a couple of exceptions for obvious reasons but I would say 10% is a floor,” Trump told reporters Friday evening aboard Air Force One en route to Florida. He didn’t elaborate on the “obvious reasons” or suggest any shift in his broader tariff policy.His remarks capped a volatile week for equity and bond markets and added fresh uncertainty for nations, investors, and businesses already grappling with his evolving trade agenda. Earlier in the week, Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on several countries—only to delay them just hours later, after financial markets reacted sharply amid fears that his import taxes could hurt the global economy.While China, the world’s second-largest economy, now faces a steep 145% levy, Trump is sticking to the 10% baseline rate for most other nations, as foreign governments scramble to negotiate favorable terms with the U.S.On Friday, markets rallied. The S&P 500 climbed 1.8%, capping its best week since 2023, boosted by a report that a Federal Reserve official signaled readiness to step in and stabilize markets if necessary. Yields on U.S. 10-year Treasuries retreated from their highs, t ..Still, recent market volatility shows little sign of abating, with concerns growing that Trump’s tariff-driven push to revive U.S. manufacturing and boost federal revenue could trigger recessions and erode America’s status as a global safe haven.Trump, however, downplayed those concerns on Friday. “I think the markets were solid today. I think people are seeing we’re in great shape,” he said. He also emphasized his confidence in the U.S. dollar, declaring it would “always” remain “the currency of choice.”“If a nation said we’re not going to be on the dollar, I would tell you that within about one phone call they would be back on the dollar. You always have to keep the dollar,” he added.He also dismissed recent Treasury market turbulence—something he had cited earlier in the week when adjusting his tariff timeline. “The bond market’s going good. It had a little moment but I solved that problem very quickly,” Trump said.Even with temporary relief for some trading partners, the sharply higher tariff on China is set to push the average U.S. duty rate to historic highs, according to Bloomberg Economics. The prolonged trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies  ..In a tit-for-tat move, China on Friday raised tariffs on all U.S. goods to 125%, matching the new U.S. rate and layering it on top of an existing 20% tax. While Beijing said it wouldn’t mirror any further increases, it vowed to “fight to the end” with other unspecified countermeasures.“I think something positive is going to come,” Trump said Friday, when asked about the ongoing trade battle with China, describing President Xi Jinping as “a very good leader, a very smart leader.”read more :-Weekly Summary Report: Cotton Bales Sold by Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)

Weekly Cotton Bale Sales Report – CCICotton Corporation of India (CCI) conducted online bidding for cotton bales throughout the week, with the summary of daily sales being as follows:07 April 2025: Total 5,200 bales were sold, comprising 4,000 bales in Mills session and 1,200 bales in Traders session.08 April 2025: CCI recorded sales of 36,400 bales, comprising 14,600 bales in Mills session and 21,800 bales in Traders session.09 April 2025: Daily sales reached 4,900 bales, comprising 3,400 bales sold in Mills session and 1,500 bales in Traders session.11th April 2025: The week ended with the highest single-day sales of  1,83,500 bales, of which 79,300 bales were sold from Mills Session and 1,04,200 bales in Traders Session.Weekly Total: During the week, CCI sold 2,30,000 (approx.) cotton bales, successfully using its online bidding platform to streamline transactions and support trading.read more :-Free US imports by Asian peers will hit Indian cotton, yarn, textiles and apparel exports

Indian Yarn & Textile Exports at Risk from Asian RivalsVietnam is facing 46 per cent reciprocal tariffs, Bangladesh 37 per cent, and Cambodia 49 per cent, though they have received a breather for 90 days with a basic tariff of 10 per cent.Chennai : Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cambodia are in the process of either removing fully or charging minimal tariffs on US imports as part of their trade negotiations. This will make not just Indian textile and apparel exports to the US less competitive but shrink our cotton and yarn exports to these countries as well. Vietnam is facing 46 per cent reciprocal tariffs, Bangladesh 37 per cent, and Cambodia 49 per cent, though they have received a breather for 90 days with a basic tariff of 10 per cent.In order to offset the impact, Bangladesh has offered to increase US agricultural imports, including cotton. Similarly, Cambodia has announced a reduction in tariffs on 19 US product categories from the maximum 35 per cent to an applied 5-per cent rate. Vietnam too is ready to drop its duties on US imports. This will see the US exporting more cotton to these countries. The US is the third largest producer of cotton after China and India. According to Chandrima Chatterjee, secretary general of Confederation of Indian Textile Industry, import parity pricing of US cotton will be lower compared to India as India. In the recent past, Indian cotton has remained pricier compared to international cotton. Further, these countries will be under pressure to import more cotton from the US to ward off tariffs.India exports over $2 billion cotton and yarn to Bangladesh and a considerable portion of this is facing potential trade displacement. Similarly, the export of cotton and yarn to Vietnam and Cambodia also are sizeable. Further, in the absence of reciprocal tariffs, exports of apparels from these countries will become more competitive compared to Indian exports. Shrinkage of cotton and yarn exports along with apparels and textiles will be a double whammy for India. In 2024, India exported textile products worth $10.5 bn to the US. This mainly includes, apparels, home textiles and other textile products. India also imports cotton from the US and of the imports, Extra Long Staple cotton is not produced in India in sufficient quantities. The textile industry hopes that the Indian government too will negotiate with the US for a better deal.read more :-'There will be transition cost': Donald Trump holds ground on tariffs as US markets falter

The Indian rupee ended 20 paisa up on Friday at 86.05 to the dollar, while it opened at 86.25.At close, the Sensex was up 1,310.11 points or 1.77 percent at 75,157.26, and the Nifty was up 429.40 points or 1.92 percent at 22,828.55. About 3006 shares advanced, 807 shares declined, and 110 shares unchanged.Read More :-There will be transition cost': Donald Trump holds ground on tariffs as US markets falter

Trump Defends Tariffs Despite Market SlidePresident Donald Trump speaks at a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP)US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that his tariff policy would come with a "transition cost," as markets dropped again due to ongoing uncertainty around the trade conflict."There will be a transition cost, and transition problems, but in the end, it's going to be a beautiful thing," Trump said. The US president is aiming to change the global economy by encouraging manufacturers to operate from the United States.His comment came shortly after the White House said that tariffs on China would rise to 145 per cent on some products. This includes a previous 20 per cent tariff on those making the drug fentanyl.Despite the tensions, Trump said he still hopes to make an agreement with China. "I think we'll end up working something out that's very good for both countries. I look forward to it," he said.Markets continued to show signs of trouble on Friday, after Trump’s earlier announcement of a 10 per cent tariff on all countries except China.On Wednesday afternoon, Trump said that for 90 days, the US would apply a flat 10 per cent tariff on all countries except China, instead of setting different "reciprocal" tariffs for each country.Trump also paused a plan to impose tariffs as high as 50 per cent on countries he described as the "worst offenders." However, the trade dispute with China remains.Meanwhile, China has increased its retaliatory tariffs on American goods to 84 per cent .In a televised cabinet meeting, Trump said, "There would always be transition difficulty," but added that "it was the biggest day in history in markets."He said investors were pleased with how the US was managing its trade policy and that the country was "trying to get the world to treat us fairly."He also said, "everybody wants to come and make a deal" to lower tariffs.US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, who was also at the meeting, said several countries were entering talks and bringing "offers they never would have" if not for Trump’s trade actions."We're getting the respect we deserve now," Lutnick said. "I think you're going to see historic deals one after the other."Moreover, Trump also said the US would "love to be able to work a deal (with China)" and added that he had "great respect for President Xi." He also said he thought they would "end up working something out that's very good for both countries."He repeated his claim that China had "taken advantage" and "ripped off" the US "more than anybody" for a long time.Meanwhile, China announced that it would reduce the number of American-made films in its cinemas. It also said that the trade dispute had lowered interest in Hollywood movies among Chinese audiences.Currently, China allows up to 34 US films each year. Local movies are becoming more popular.The European Union said it would pause its planned countermeasures against the US for 90 days. These were scheduled to start on April 15.On Wednesday, 26 out of 27 EU countries — all except Hungary — voted to apply tariffs in response to the US 20 per cent tariff.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement that the EU wanted "to give negotiations a chance."read more :-Rupee opens 44 paise higher at 86.25 against dollar

In relation to the US dollar, the rupee opens 44 paise higher at 86.25.The rupee opened at 86.25 against the US dollar after closing the previous session at 86.69.The rupee opened 44 paise up on April 11 against the US dollar following a selloff in the American market over the worsening tariff war with China amid a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs with other countries.read more :-India Ends Trans-Shipment Facility For Bangladesh To Export Goods To Other Countries

India Ends Bangladesh's Trans-Shipment Export RouteNew Delhi:The government has terminated the trans-shipment facility that allowed export cargo from Bangladesh to third countries using Indian land customs stations en route to ports and airports, according to a government circular.Indian exporters, mainly from the apparel sector, had asked the government to withdraw this facility to the neighbouring country.The facility enabled smooth trade flows for Bangladesh's exports to countries like Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. It was provided by India to Bangladesh in June 2020."It has been decided to rescind... circular... dated June 29, 2020, as amended with immediate effect. Cargo already entered into India may be allowed to exit the Indian territory as per the procedure given in that circular," the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs' circular, dated April 8, said.According to trade experts, the decision will help many Indian exporting sectors like apparel, footwear, and gems and jewellery.Bangladesh is a big competitor of India in the textile sector."Now we will have more air capacity for our cargo. In the past, exporters have complained about lesser space due to the transhipment facility given to Bangladesh," Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said.Apparel exporters' body AEPC had asked the government to suspend this order, which allowed trans-shipment of Bangladesh export cargo to third countries through the Delhi air cargo complex.AEPC chairman Sudhir Sekhri said 20-30 loaded trucks arrive in Delhi every day, which slows down the smooth movement of cargo, and airlines are taking undue advantage of this. This leads to an excessive increase in air freight rates, delay in handling and processing of export cargo, and severe congestion at the cargo terminal at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, resulting in exports of Indian apparel through the Delhi air cargo complex becoming uncompetitive."This will help in rationalization of freight rates resulting in less transportation cost to the Indian exporters besides decongesting the airports leading to the shorter transit time to ship the goods," AEPC secretary general Mithileshwar Thakur said.Think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) founder Ajay Srivastava said the withdrawal of this facility is expected to disrupt Bangladesh's export and import logistics, which depend on Indian infrastructure for third-country trade."The previous mechanism offered a streamlined route through India, cutting transit time and cost. Now, without it, Bangladeshi exporters may face logistical delays, higher costs, and uncertainty. Additionally, Nepal and Bhutan, both landlocked nations, may raise concerns about restricted transit access to Bangladesh, especially as this move will hamper their trade with Bangladesh," Mr Srivastava said.He said Bangladesh's plans for creating a strategic base near the Chicken's Neck area with China's help may have prompted this action.India has always supported Bangladesh's cause, as it allowed one-way zero tariff access to Bangladesh goods (all except alcohol and cigarettes) to the vast Indian market for the last two decades.However, India-Bangladesh relations nosedived dramatically after the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country.read more :-White House Warns After Trump's 125% Tariffs On China

White House Responds to Trump’s 125% Tariffs on ChinaWashington:In a stunning turn of events, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday reversed his sweeping tariffs on most nations for at least 90 days. However, he ramped up pressure on China, on which the pause does not apply, further escalating a high-stakes confrontation between the world's two largest economies. Instead, Trump slapped a punishing 125 per cent tax on all Chinese goods, while China announced new tariffs of 84 per cent on all US imports, further escalating a high-stakes confrontation between the two largest economies of the world, and fuelling fresh market volatility. The two countries have traded tit-for-tat tariff hikes repeatedly over the past week. After making an example out of China, the White House sent a stark warning to trading partners-- "DO NOT RETALIATE AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED."Meanwhile, China refused to back down against America's aggression, and its 84 per cent tariffs on US imports came into effect at 12.01 pm on Thursday, according to the Chinese state news agency, Xinhua.Before levies came into force, Beijing's Commerce Minister had said the ‘reciprocal tariffs' by the US are “a serious infringement of the legitimate interests of all countries”.Per a Xinhua report, an official from the Ministry earlier said that no one would win in a trade war."I want to emphasize that there is no winner in a trade war, and that China does not want a trade war. But the Chinese government will by no means sit by when the legitimate rights and interests of its people are being hurt and deprived,” the official said on Wednesday.Trump's U TurnTrump's turnabout, which came less than 24 hours after steep new tariffs kicked in on most trading partners, followed the most intense episode of financial market volatility since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The upheaval erased trillions of dollars from stock markets and led to an unsettling surge in U.S. government bond yields that appeared to catch Trump's attention."I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line, they were getting yippy, you know," the American President told reporters after the announcement, referring to a golf term. Since returning to the White House in January, the Republican billionaire has repeatedly threatened an array of punitive measures on trading partners, only to revoke some of them at the last minute. The on-again, off-again approach has baffled world leaders and spooked business executives. Trump told reporters that he had been considering a pause for several days. On Monday, the White House denounced a report that the administration was considering such a move, calling it "fake news."Furthermore, the reversal of the country-specific tariffs is not absolute. A 10 per cent blanket duty on almost all US imports will remain in effect, the White House said. The announcement also does not appear to affect duties on autos, steel and aluminum that are already in place.The 90-day freeze also does not apply to duties paid by Canada and Mexico, because their goods are still subject to 25 per cent fentanyl-related tariffs if they do not comply with the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement's rules of origin. Those duties remain in place for the moment, with an indefinite exemption for USMCA-compliant goods."Be Flexible'The day's events cast into stark relief the uncertainty surrounding Trump's policies and how he and his team create and implement them.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asserted that the pullback had been the plan all along to bring countries to the bargaining table. Trump, though, later indicated that the near-panic in markets that had unfolded since his April 2 announcements had factored in to his thinking. Despite insisting for days that his policies would never change, he told reporters on  Wednesday: "You have to be flexible."'China Unlikely To Change Strategy'Experts believe that while Trump's new strategy will come as a relief to many nations, Beijing is unlikely to change its strategy and back down. "China is unlikely to change its strategy: stand firm, absorb pressure, and let Trump overplay his hand. Beijing believes Trump sees concessions as a weakness, so giving ground only invites more pressure," Daniel Russel, vice president of international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, told Reuters."Other countries will welcome the 90-day stay of execution — if it lasts — but the whiplash from constant zigzags creates more of the uncertainty that businesses and governments hate," he addedMeanwhile, Trump indicated a resolution with China was possible as well. But officials have said they will prioritize talks with other countries.   "China wants to make a deal," Trump said. "They just don't know how quite to go about it."read more :-China Hikes Tariffs to 84%, Wall Street Futures Drop 2%

China raises tariffs on US imports to 84%, Wall Street Futures plunge nearly 2%China has again retaliated to US tariffs, and has increased its tariffs on imported American goods to 84 percent, effective April 10. China had earlier imposed 34 percent tariff on US imports.China added 12 US entities to export control list, and six firms to its unreliable list. Consequently, Wall Street Futures were trading sharply lower, with Dow Futures trading 1.7 percent lower, S&P 500 Futures trading 1.5 percent lower and Nasdaq Futures dropping 1.3 percent lower.European indices were lower between 3-4%. Tracking the sentiment, Nymex crude futures fell by more than 5-6% to slip to $56 per barrel. Earlier in the day, China's PBoC relaxed its control over offshore yuan, sending it down to record low against the dollar.US President Donald Trump had imposed a slew of reciprocal tariffs on a number of nations on April 2, with China being charged 34 percent. Beijing promptly hit back, imposing 34 percent tariff on US imports.The trade war intensified after Trump further hiked the tariff on Chinese imports to 104 percent. China has now again retaliated, hiking its tariffs on American imports to 84 percent.read more :-CCI Ltd Cotton Purchases - 2024/25 (Up to March 31)