00:00The festival of Christmas is around the corner, but for Kashmiri paper-mashing artisans and exporters, this joyous occasion has little to offer.
00:08And the reason is that they are unable to send their specially designed paper-mashing products like bells, balls and stars to the Western and European markets due to the hefty tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
00:22With Christmas just weeks away, in the workshops of Kashmir, there is little festive cheer this year.
00:32For thousands of paper-mashing arisans, this is usually the busiest time of the year, a season of hope and steady income.
00:45But this Christmas, their orders are drying up.
00:49The reason lies far from the valley.
00:52For One India News, Izhar Ali have brought us the tale of papier-mâché artisans and impact of tariffs on them.
01:05New U.S. tariffs on Indian imports have dealt a major blow to their biggest export market.
01:12Every year, Kashmiri craftsmen produce tens of thousands of handmade Christmas decorations, bells, balls, stars and intricately painted figurines.
01:28These bright, hand-polished pieces travel across the world to homes and Christmas trees in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Europe.
01:42This year, that global demand has sharply fallen.
01:50Exporters say the tariff hike under the Trump administration has pushed many international buyers away.
01:56Christmas and New Year are the same time in which we keep waiting for the whole year.
02:03Usually, there are a lot of orders from Europe and the U.S.
02:07But this year, it has been a little less.
02:10Because the tariff of the U.S. tariff has increased because of the impact on the U.S. tariff.
02:15Because of course, there are a lot of people who want to import the tariff in the U.S. tariff in the U.S. tariff.
02:23So, there is a little difference, but hopefully in the coming year, hopefully, it will revive it again.
02:31But as of now, there is a difference.
02:32He says Christmas and New Year are the only time they see large orders from abroad.
02:40But this season, orders from the U.S. and Europe have dropped significantly.
02:48He adds that until tariffs are eased, many traders are hesitant to send goods overseas.
02:56The tariff shock comes on top of an already difficult year.
03:01Traders had hoped international clients would return after business in the valley suffered following the Pailgam attack.
03:09Instead, they say conditions have only worsened.
03:16In the past year, Christmas was ready for Christmas.
03:23I don't know that the market is down.
03:25The Pailgam has also affected the price.
03:28We sold the prices here for the first time.
03:31When tourists didn't come, the price was also in the first time.
03:36Mir says there is usually strong Christmas demand for paper mache decorations, balls, bells, stars and Santa sets.
03:47This year, sales are down by nearly 40%.
03:52Traders are cutting prices, yet buyers remain scarce.
03:58The losses have been so severe that many families are questioning the future of the craft.
04:06Mir warns the younger generation is losing interest in a profession that no longer offers financial security.
04:15He says the Pailgam attack also hit local sales hard.
04:20When tourists stopped coming, showrooms were left with unsold stock piling up on shelves.
04:27When the U.S. tariffs came to India, we had a lot of effect.
04:32Our work, artisans are suffering a lot.
04:35Because many orders will cancel from the U.S. and the U.K.
04:40Kahn says the tariffs have led to mass order cancellations from the U.S. and Europe.
04:50Artisans, he says, are struggling to survive.
04:54Paper mache in Kashmir is a labor-intensive art.
04:58Discarded paper is soaked, massed into pulp, shaped using wooden or copper molds,
05:04and then hand-painted with meticulous detail.
05:09The craft dates back to the 15th century.
05:15Today, thousands of families depend on it for their livelihood.
05:20But as Christmas approaches, artisans fear that a tradition sustained by global demand
05:26is facing one of its toughest seasons yet.
05:30These thousands of paper-mashy dealers who were expecting a brisk business this Christmas
05:40have nothing left but disappointment and despair on their faces.
05:44In Shrinagar, for OneIndia, Izzhar Ali.
05:47Subscribe to OneIndia and never miss an update.
05:52Download the OneIndia app now.
05:56OneIndia app now.
05:57OneIndia app now.
05:58OneIndia app now.
05:59OneIndia app now.
06:00OneIndia app now.
06:01OneIndia app now.
06:02OneIndia app now.
06:03OneIndia app now.
06:04OneIndia app now.
06:05OneIndia app now.
06:06OneIndia app now.
06:07OneIndia app now.
06:08OneIndia app now.
06:09OneIndia app now.
06:10OneIndia app now.
06:11OneIndia app now.
06:12OneIndia app now.
06:13OneIndia app now.
06:14OneIndia app now.
06:15OneIndia app now.
06:16OneIndia app now.
06:17OneIndia app now.
06:18OneIndia app now.
06:19OneIndia app now.
06:20OneIndia app now.
Comments