India has raised with Chinese authorities its concern on cheap Chinese goods flooding the Indian market and hurting its traders and manufacturing sectors.
Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Deccan Herald that during her recent visit to China, she had raised the issue of cheap but unsafe items produced in that country are affecting Indian industry.
“I told them why don't you come and invest in India in manufacturing the products which are giving you such good returns in our markets? I told them this is going to benefit both countries. It will fetch you profits and give jobs to our people,” Sitharaman said.
Cheap imports from China have long been a problem area for small Indian businesses, but in recent years, Chinese imports have changed from low-value, low-cost products like toys and crackers to high-value items like electronics.
Sitharaman said the government is ready to give Indian businesses all help in rejuvenating and giving healthy competition to the neighbouring country. “In my meeting with Indian industry, I raised my concern on why articles from pins to bathroom fittings to even the Lord Ganesha that we worship are being imported from China,” she said.
“We must look into areas where we have failed and why we have failed, and given an opportunity to Chinese (goods) to take over. China should not be feared..” Sitharaman told the Indian manufacturers.
Among the diversified import portfolio from China, imports such as textile machinery are among the biggest threats to small manufacturers.
