Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Dec 18: Ahead of the Christmas festival, artisans in Kashmir known for their intricate papier-mâché craft Thursday said that the lingering effects of a US tariff are disrupting their livelihoods.
They say increased duties and stricter import regulations have made their handmade goods significantly more expensive and less competitive in key Western markets like the United States and Europe, squeezing a centuries-old cultural industry.
Veteran artist, Haji Mohammad Akhtar of Zadibal, who has worked on papier-mache for over four decades along with his sons, said the festive season this year hasn’t brought the usual business momentum.
“Work is going on but sales are low. Compared to last winter, demand from outside India, especially the U.S. and Europe has dropped. Freight and custom costs have gone up sharply,” Akhtar said.
Exporters said that U.S. tariff hikes and stricter import rules continue to negatively affect small art markets—making handmade crafts more expensive for overseas buyers.
“These crafts used to be regular goods to U.S. and European stores, but additional duties and tighter import norms have made our handmade work costlier overseas,” said another artisan.
Mir Arshad Hussain of Bota Kadal who has won the top prize at the International Fajr Festival of Handicrafts in Iran, echoed similar concerns.
“This art gives Kashmir its global identity, yet there’s little institutional help. Export channels are shrinking and younger people see no security in this work,” he said.
“Despite all odds, we keep on working to preserve the legacy of Kashmiri art. We are pretty optimistic that the trade will uptick again,” he said.
