Titan Company, part of the Tata Group and India’s leading jeweler and watchmaker, is considering relocating some manufacturing operations to the Gulf region, driven by rising U.S.-India trade tensions. According to Managing Director C.K. Venkataraman, this move aims to preserve low-tariff access to the U.S. market as tariffs on Indian exports face steep increases.

The decision follows Titan’s strategic acquisition of a majority stake in Dubai-based luxury retailer Damas, which has 146 storefronts across GCC countries. Operating from the Gulf would expose Titan to only a 10% U.S. import tariff, in stark contrast to the 25% levied on goods directly exported from India.

Titan’s well-known brands such as Tanishq and CaratLane are expanding their presence in U.S. markets. With the high cost and limited skilled labor domestically, shifting manufacturing to the Gulf presents a viable alternative to sustain growth and offset currency-driven trade barriers.