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Diamond polishers in Surat face a rougher grind as US tariffs cut deep

The tariff trap Part-I: The first of a three-part series captures how Surat's diamond industry is coping with tariff uncertainties

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More than nine out of 10 diamonds worldwide are polished in Surat, making it a global hub for diamond finishing | photo: AJINKYA KAWALE

Ajinkya Kawale Surat

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A tight alley in the heart of Surat leads to the basement of a worn-down building, where more than 20 motorcycles are crammed wheel-to-wheel, leaving barely any room to walk.
 
The building may look abandoned to a stranger, but a few steps inside the commercial complex reveal a floor that manufactures one of India’s most valuable exports: diamonds.
 
This nondescript diamond polishing unit is packed with 26 artisans seated shoulder-to-shoulder, armed with precision tools and magnifying loupes, facing whirling abrasive plates. These skilled men refer to pages filled with dense grids of numbers to cut raw diamonds into meticulous shapes