India’s total imports from China increased by nearly 29 per cent in the past five years. Compared to 2017-18 and 2021-22, the annual imports from China rose from $89.714 billion to $115.419 billion, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel informed Lok Sabha on Thursday. 

The minister was responding to a question on the details of commodity-wise trade with China during the last five years. 

A large portion of the total imports were animal or vegetable fats; ores, slag and ash; mineral fuels, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, fertilisers, tanning or dyeing extracts, miscellaneous chemical products; plastic and articles; paper and paperboard; cotton; textile fabrics; footwear, glass and glassware; iron and steel; copper; nuclear reactors, boilers and machinery; and mechanical appliances; electrical machinery; and furniture; among others, government data showed.

On whether the Government was taking measures to reduce dependence on imports from China, especially since the mid-2020 Galwan clash, the minister replied that the government had launched Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes in 14 sectors which would make Indian manufacturers globally competitive, attract investment in the areas of core competency and cutting-edge technology, enhance exports, integrate India in global supply chain and reduce dependency on imports. 

There had been several calls to shun Chinese products after a border clash with China in 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers and several PLA soldiers were killed. Following the event, India had imposed a ban on 59 apps, including TikTok, UC Browser and other apps. Almost all the apps banned have some preferential Chinese interest, and the majority have Chinese parent companies. 

Notably, the government procurement portal GeM has made it mandatory for sellers to mention “country of origin” on products they wish to sell through the platform, a move aimed at promoting Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Also, all e-commerce companies operating in India have to mention the country of origin of products being offered for sale.