India steps up vigil against cheap Chinese imports amid US tariff hike

IANS April 5, 2025 173 views

India is strategically responding to the global trade tensions triggered by escalating US-China tariff conflicts. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal is leading efforts to protect domestic industries from potential economic fallout. The government is closely monitoring imported goods, particularly from China, to prevent market disruption. While short-term challenges exist, experts believe India may gain long-term competitive advantages in sectors like textiles and electronics.

"Tariffs levied on India are the lowest among Asian peers" - SBI Research Report
New Delhi, April 5: India has stepped up vigil to prevent the dumping of cheap Chinese imports in the country after the steep US tariff hike on the goods exported by the Communist country.

Key Points

1

India monitoring Chinese imports to prevent economic disruption

2

US tariff hikes create complex global trade landscape

3

Commerce Ministry actively developing protective strategies

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Textile and electronics sectors potentially impacted

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal is reported to have held a number of meetings to take stock of the situation. Government officials are also in touch with industry to get a wider view of the ground reality and formulate a strategy to protect the Indian economy.

The Commerce Ministry has already been keeping a close watch on goods such as steel from China which was hurting industry after the earlier round of tariff hike by the US. Now the vigil has been widened to other goods as well, a senior official confirmed.

While the US has hiked tariffs for all countries, China is the worst hit as the additional tariff of 34 per cent announced by President Donald Trump has ramped up the total duty to 54 per cent.

China has retaliated against the US tariff hike by increasing duties on all American goods by 34 per cent and placing export curbs on essential rare earth metals required for the vital electronics and defence industries.

China has also imposed restrictions on several US companies, especially those in defence-related industries, in a tit-for-tat move.

India’s exports to the US constitute only 4 per cent of its GDP, so the direct impact of the 27 per cent hike in tariffs on Indian goods announced by President Trump will have only a "limited" impact, according to an SBI Research report..

The tariffs levied on India are the lowest among its Asian peers, compared to 34 per cent on China, 36 per cent on Thailand, 32 per cent on Indonesia, and 46 per cent on Vietnam. This is expected to give India a comparative advantage over these countries and result in an increase in exports in some sectors over the long term, the report states.

The higher tariff on textile export-oriented countries like Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam may lead to lower demand due to inflationary pressures. However, in the long term, India stands to benefit as it endeavours to corner a larger share of the market. India’s export to the USA on textile products is around $7 billion during April-December, FY25. So, this sector may be impacted negatively in the short run but may have a positive impact in the long run, according to the report.

In electronics, China has a tariff of 54 per cent to 79 per cent, so India has a better position compared to the key electronics exporting countries. India’s exports of electronics to the US were worth around $9 billion during April-December of FY25, which holds the highest share of 15 per cent in total exports.

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
Good move by our government! We need to protect our industries from cheap Chinese imports that hurt local manufacturers. Atmanirbhar Bharat in action! 🇮🇳
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Priya M.
While I understand the need for protection, I hope this doesn't lead to higher prices for consumers. Many middle-class families rely on affordable Chinese goods for daily needs.
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Amit S.
Interesting analysis about the textile sector. Short-term pain for long-term gain makes sense. Hope our manufacturers can step up to fill the gap left by China!
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Sunita R.
The electronics export numbers are promising! With China facing higher tariffs, this could be India's moment to become a global manufacturing hub. Make in India! 💪
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Vikram J.
Respectful criticism: The article could have included more details about specific measures India is taking beyond "stepping up vigil." Concrete policy actions would make this more informative.
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Neha P.
The US-China trade war creating opportunities for India is fascinating. Hope our policymakers make the most of this situation. The rare earth metals angle is particularly interesting!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
India Trade Policy Chinese Imports US Tariffs Commerce Ministry Sunil Barthwal Donald Trump Economic Protection
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