Dewan Calls for Urgent U.S. Trade Agreement to Save Ludhiana Hosiery Industry
Bahadurjeet Singh/royalpatiala.in News/ Ludhiana, January 24,2026
Former District Congress Committee, Ludhiana (Urban) President and Ex-Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, Pawan Dewan, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prioritize a trade agreement with the United States that safeguards the Ludhiana hosiery industry.
In a statement issued here today, Dewan noted that Ludhiana has long been the country’s hosiery hub, exporting goods across the globe. He added, “However, the hosiery industry has been grappling with rising input costs, making survival increasingly difficult. This fragile situation has now been further compounded by the imposition of 50 per cent tariffs by the United States on Indian textile exports.”
Underscoring the need for urgent intervention at the highest level, Dewan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must prioritize a trade agreement with the United States to help restore Ludhiana’s hosiery exports, protect jobs, stabilize consumer prices and strengthen India’s position in global trade.
Citing reports from industry associations warning that if the tariffs continue, a large number of hosiery units may be forced to shut down, Dewan cautioned that the consequences of such closures would be devastating. “Tens of thousands of workers, many of them migrants dependent on daily wages, face the prospect of unemployment. The crisis is not confined to exporters alone, consumers too will bear the brunt,” he pointed out.
Dewan further emphasized that with higher tariffs making exports unviable, producers are left with no choice but to pass on costs. “Knitwear and hosiery products are likely to become more expensive in domestic markets, squeezing household budgets and reducing affordability. At the same time, India risks losing its competitive edge to countries enjoying lower tariff barriers in the US,” he asserted, reiterating that the Union government must enter into a favorable trade agreement with the US at the earliest.
 President){kind=link}