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Despite all effort to reduce dependence on Chinese imports, imports at all time high in India

Public Lokpal
October 17, 2021

Despite all effort to reduce dependence on Chinese imports, imports at all time high in India


New Delhi: Despite India’s efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese imports amid an increased emphasis on self-reliance as well as escalating tensions along the border, the country’s bilateral trade with China has grown 49.4 per cent in the first nine months of 2021 as against the same period in 2020, as per Chinese government data.

India’s imports from China rose to $68.46 billion in the first nine month of 2021, up 51.5 per cent from the corresponding period in 2020, which was impacted by Covid-19 related restrictions, according to data from the China General Administration of Customs. Imports were up 21.6 per cent over the same period in 2019, which was not impacted by the pandemic.

The sharp uptick in imports has pushed India’s trade deficit with China to $46.55 billion in the first nine months of 2021, up from $29.86 billion in the year-ago period and $42.96 billion in the corresponding period in 2019. India’s official statistics on bilateral trade with China are updated only till July 2021. India’s total trade with China was $90.38 billion in the January-September period, and is on track to cross $100 billion by the end of the year.

According to Commerce Ministry data, China was India’s top trading partner in the April-July period, followed by the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

Some of India’s key imports from China include components for smartphones and automobiles, telecom equipment, plastic and metallic goods, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and other chemicals.