India has announced tax cuts on hundreds of consumer items ranging from soaps to small cars to spur domestic demand in the face of economic headwinds from punishing tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The measures come as the 50 percent US tariffs took effect last month , raising fears of an economic slowdown.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been overhauled to simplify India’s complex four-tier system into two slabs and cut levies across sectors, in some cases by more than half, announced Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Sitharaman said a panel, which looked into the GST reforms, approved cuts in consumer items such as toothpaste and shampoo to 5 percent from 18 percent, and on small cars, air conditioners, and televisions to 18 percent from 28 percent.

The panel,

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