The Indian government has increased its monitoring of goods coming from China after the United States raised tariffs on many global trade partners, including China. This move is meant to prevent a possible rise in cheap Chinese goods entering India, which could hurt local industries.
The Department of Commerce, led by Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, has started several internal meetings to create a clear plan to deal with this situation. According to reports, the department was already keeping a close eye on imports before the U.S. officially announced its higher tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 2, raising extra duties ranging from 10% to 50% on goods from different countries. The basic 10% duty starts from April 5, and the higher country-wise duties will begin from April 9. China has been hit the hardest, with a 34% extra duty, taking the total tariff to 54%.
In response, China has also imposed a 34% tariff on U.S. goods and placed export restrictions on rare earth minerals. Additionally, it has blocked about 30 U.S. organisations from doing business, mostly those linked to defence. This sharp reaction has made the ongoing trade war between the two largest economies even worse.
China’s finance ministry described the US tariffs as “unjust and against global norms.” President Trump criticized China for “panicking,” stating that either way, they had responded in an undesirable manner to his announcement.
Indian experts warn that since China is searching for alternative markets to sell its merchandise to, India can potentially be faced with the threat of dumping—where low-priced commodities are supplied in huge quantities into a market. India is preventing this by planning to be proactive.
India already has anti-dumping regulations in place under the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), which functions to safeguard Indian companies against such activities. The rules are being scrutinized afresh with increased attention in light of the escalating threats.
India’s imports from China increased by 10.4% to $103.7 billion between April 2024 and February 2025 based on commerce department data. India’s exports to China decreased by 15.7% during this period to stand at $12.7 billion. This trade deficit is the latest in India’s list of concerns regarding increased Chinese imports.
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Source: Moneycontrol.
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