Chennai, Dec. 19 -- The 50% tariff imposed by the U.S. is not merely an economic setback but a looming humanitarian challenge, said chief minister M K Stain in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing difficulties among the export hubs in Tamil Nadu and sought an urgent bilateral resolution to the crisis.

In Tiruppur - considered the Knitwear Capital of India - exporters have reported a staggering wipe out of Rs.15,000 crores in confirmed orders, coupled with enforced production cuts of up to 30% across units, Stalin said. "New orders are also drying up at an alarming rate. This has translated into a combined daily loss of Rs.60 crores in revenues for exporters in Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Erode and Karur Districts, pushing many Small...