<h4 data-path-to-node="3" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="0" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">High-Level Industry Dialogue Convened by Commerce Minister</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="4" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b>NEW DELHI</b> — Indian export councils and trade promotion bodies have formally submitted an urgent appeal to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal, raising grave concerns over escalating logistics costs, route uncertainties, and working capital constraints stemming from the ongoing West Asia transit crisis.</p><p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_f0cacfb98cf0f4a9-280" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-464" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">During a high-level review meeting convened in New Delhi with major export promotion councils—including the </span><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="108" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)</b><span class="citation-464 citation-end-464" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">—trade leadership warned that compounding shipping surcharges and extended transit delays across the Bab el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz corridors are severely eroding the margin stability and global price competitiveness of Indian merchandise dispatches.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1531356876="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1531356876="" _nghost-ng-c815920949="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h4 data-path-to-node="7" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="0" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Compounding Surcharges and Western Port Congestion</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="8" id="p-rc_f0cacfb98cf0f4a9-281" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">According to detailed feedback submitted to the Commerce Ministry, ocean freight rates on key routes linking India with Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East have experienced sharp upward surges. <span class="citation-463" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The freight inflation is being driven by global ocean carrier alliances enforcing ad-hoc </span><b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="308" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Peak Season Surcharges (PSS)</b><span class="citation-463" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, non-transparent </span><b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="354" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">War Risk Surcharges (WRS)</b><span class="citation-463 citation-end-463" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, and emergency contingency fees.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1531356876="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1531356876="" _nghost-ng-c815920949="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="9" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">The trade disruption has triggered a severe domino effect across domestic port infrastructure:</p><ol start="1" data-path-to-node="10" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="10,0,0" id="p-rc_f0cacfb98cf0f4a9-282" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-462" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></span><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Gateway Congestion:</b><span class="citation-462" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> Major western sea gateways—including </span><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="57" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA)</b><span class="citation-462" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, </span><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="97" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Deendayal Port (Kandla)</b><span class="citation-462" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, and </span><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="126" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Mundra Port</b><span class="citation-462 citation-end-462" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">—are facing heightened container yard stacking densities and anchor delays due to diverted West Asia-bound cargo temporarily occupying terminal storage space.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1531356876="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1531356876="" _nghost-ng-c815920949="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="10,1,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Delayed Payment Cycles:</b> Exporters report that extended maritime transit timelines around the Cape of Good Hope have stretched cash flow rotation cycles by two to four weeks. Payment realizations tied to port-of-destination bills of lading are being delayed, locking up vital working capital for small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="10,2,0" id="p-rc_f0cacfb98cf0f4a9-283" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-461" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></span><b data-path-to-node="10,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Buyer Deliberation &amp; Order Postponements:</b><span class="citation-461 citation-end-461" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> Overseas buyers in European and North American markets are adopting defensive procurement metrics, with several requesting delivery timeline extensions or temporarily holding back fresh purchase contracts due to freight unpredictability.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1531356876="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1531356876="" _nghost-ng-c815920949="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ol><h4 data-path-to-node="12" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="12" data-index-in-node="0" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">FIEO Policy Demands &amp; Crisis Management Proposals</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="13" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Highlighting the structural pressures facing export-oriented manufacturing clusters—specifically textiles, engineering goods, leather, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products—FIEO and allied trade panels presented a set of concrete policy proposals to the Union Government:</p><ul data-path-to-node="14" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="14,0,0" id="p-rc_f0cacfb98cf0f4a9-284" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-460" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></span><b data-path-to-node="14,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Standardized Surcharge Framework:</b><span class="citation-460 citation-end-460" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> Establishing a unified, transparent cut-off date and mandatory breakdown for War Risk Surcharges and terminal handling fees levied by foreign shipping lines to prevent "opportunistic pricing."<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1531356876="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1531356876="" _nghost-ng-c815920949="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="14,1,0" id="p-rc_f0cacfb98cf0f4a9-285" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="14,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Inter-Ministerial Crisis Taskforce:</b><span class="citation-459 citation-end-459" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> Creating a single-window coordination desk integrating officials from the Ministries of Commerce, Shipping, Road Transport, and Customs to resolve port-side bottlenecks and trailer driver shortages in real-time.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1531356876="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1531356876="" _nghost-ng-c815920949="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="14,2,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="14,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Working Capital Liquidity Support:</b> Introducing temporary freight subsidy buffers, extending pre-shipment and post-shipment export credit facilities, and expanding working capital liquidity provisions for thin-margin MSME exporters.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="14,3,0" id="p-rc_f0cacfb98cf0f4a9-286" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-458" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></span><b data-path-to-node="14,3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Paperless Customs Acceleration:</b><span class="citation-458 citation-end-458" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> Eliminating remaining manual paperwork checks at land and sea ports to maximize gate velocity and prevent demurrage penalties caused by delays beyond shippers' control.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="9" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1531356876="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1531356876="" _nghost-ng-c815920949="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul><h4 data-path-to-node="16" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="16" data-index-in-node="0" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Government Position and Macroeconomic Resilience</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="17" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Addressing industry representatives, Commerce Minister <b data-path-to-node="17" data-index-in-node="55" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Piyush Goyal</b> acknowledged the complex operational environment created by persistent West Asian transit volatility, confirming that the Ministry is taking direct feedback to formulate targeted mitigation measures.</p><p data-path-to-node="18" id="p-rc_f0cacfb98cf0f4a9-287" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-457 citation-end-457" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Speaking later in the day at an industry symposium in New Delhi, Minister Goyal emphasized the underlying resilience of India's export ecosystem:<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="10" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1531356876="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1531356876="" _nghost-ng-c815920949="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><blockquote data-path-to-node="19" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="19,0" id="p-rc_f0cacfb98cf0f4a9-288" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><i data-path-to-node="19,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-456 citation-end-456" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">"In the first quarter of FY27, global trade continues to navigate geopolitical volatility across crucial West Asian and Red Sea channels.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="11" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-455" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Despite these external headwinds and fuel price fluctuations, India’s export story remains fundamentally robust, with merchandise exports registering a resilient 15% growth trajectory in the current fiscal year."</span></i><span class="citation-455 citation-end-455" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="12" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1531356876="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1531356876="" _nghost-ng-c815920949="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="19,1" id="p-rc_f0cacfb98cf0f4a9-289" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><i data-path-to-node="19,1" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-454 citation-end-454" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">"The Union Government is actively working to dismantle compliance burdens, enhance ease of doing business, and safeguard our exporters against global trade shocks.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2021020037="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2021020037="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="13" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> Through strategic FTAs, expanded multimodal logistics under PM Gati Shakti, and proactive inter-agency coordination, we will ensure that Indian industry maintains its competitive edge in international markets."</i><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1531356876="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></sources-carousel-inline></p></blockquote>