Explanation: The main cause of the decline of textile industries in the 18 th century was high tariff rates on exports to Britain. Other reasons for the decline of textile exports from India in the 19 th century are as follows: - The British Government introduced high tariffs on the import of cotton cloth. Indian textile industry faced stiff competition and export of cotton textiles began to decline. - The Manchester goods flooded Indian markets. - Raw cotton exports from India to Britain shot up the prices of cotton. - British forced the farmers of India to produce indigo and opium. Indigo used for dyeing cloth was exported to Britain.