Srinagar, April 8 -- Panic has gripped walnut growers and dealers after US President Donald Trump's 26% reciprocal tariff onIndian.

Growers fear that India may reduce the tariff on US walnuts which can flood importedvarietyto Indian marketsleaving localfruit sector in tatters.

Currently, India charges a 52% import duty on US walnut imports, but growers worry that India may lower this tariff in response to the US move. Such a reduction, they argue, would further damage the domestic walnut industry, which is already struggling against the influx of cheaper Californian walnuts.

Bahadur Khan, President of the Kashmir Dry Fruit Association, warned that if import duties onUSwalnuts are reduced, the local industry could suffer irreversible da...