<p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India welcomes Chinese suppliers to meet its growing import requirements, but will act through established legal procedures if unfair pricing is detected, while expressing confidence that India will become a major exporter to China and the ASEAN region in the years ahead </span><span class="">. Speaking to reporters in The Hague during a two-day official visit to the Netherlands, Goyal said: "They (China) are also providing us important intermediate goods, important raw materials. If in any particular product, we find that the fair play or pricing is not proper, then there's an established judicial process, which is conducted. Other than that, we believe in the rules of fair play; we believe in the rules of open trade ... we welcome suppliers to meet the growing needs of India" </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="1" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://newsonair.gov.in/india-set-to-become-major-exporter-to-china-and-asean-piyush-goyal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="3" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-open-to-chinese-imports-hopes-to-boost-exports-to-china-and-asean-piyush-goyal/article71631167.ece" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="8" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/we-will-see-india-becoming-major-exporter-of-goods-and-services-to-china-piyush-goyal/articleshow/135232787.cms" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="13" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The minister's remarks come against the backdrop of significantly expanded India-China trade. According to Commerce Ministry data, bilateral trade between the two countries rose nearly 29% year-on-year to $91.76 billion during April–September 2026-27, compared with $71.24 billion in the same period a year earlier, making China India's largest trading partner in the first half of the fiscal year </span><span class="">. India's exports to China increased 36% to $11.41 billion, while imports from China grew 27.82% to $80.34 billion </span><span class="">. For the full FY2025-26, bilateral trade rose 7.9% to $127.7 billion, with India's exports to China up 36.62% to $19.47 billion and imports up 16% to $131.62 billion </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="5" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/india-china-trade-jumps-29-to-91-76-billion-overtakes-us-in-first-half-of-fy27/articleshow/134971325.cms?frm=save_for_later_amp#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.businessworld.in/article/goyal-says-india-open-to-china-imports-seeks-greater-export-access-630726" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="6" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-open-to-chinese-imports-hopes-to-boost-exports-to-china-and-asean-piyush-goyal/article71631167.ece" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="8" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">Despite the growth in export value, the structural imbalance in bilateral trade has not eased. Data from China's General Administration of Customs show that India's trade deficit with China widened to $105.93 billion in January–September 2026, an increase of 20.7% from $87.78 billion a year earlier </span><span class="">. China's exports to India reached $125.19 billion during the nine-month period, up 23.3%, while India's exports to China rose 40.7% to $19.26 billion—a faster growth rate but from a much smaller base, meaning the absolute deficit continued to climb </span><span class="">. India's major exports to China include seafood, naphtha and printed circuit boards, while imports from China are concentrated in value-added industrial inputs such as electronics, machinery and organic chemicals </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="9" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/policy/economy/indias-exports-to-china-jump-40-yet-trade-deficit-widens-to-105-93-bn-in-january-sept/4361369/#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="2" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/world/indias-trade-deficit-with-china-crosses-100-billion-in-2026/article71583054.ece#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="7" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.ndtvprofit.com/economy/india-is-selling-more-to-china-than-ever-so-why-is-trade-deficit-ballooning-past-100-billion-12185051#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="12" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">From a logistics and shipping perspective, this trade structure has direct implications for Indian ports and route planning. Intermediate goods and capital equipment imported from China arrive primarily via container shipping at major container gateways including Chennai, Mundra and Nhava Sheva. India's exports to China of seafood and agricultural products, by contrast, place different demands on cold-chain and bulk shipping capacity. Sustained growth in bilateral trade volumes implies corresponding increases in slot demand and port handling pressure on India-China routes, particularly at a time when global container freight rates remain elevated due to Middle East disruptions, adding further cost pressure to import operations.</span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">Goyal also addressed the ASEAN dimension in his remarks. "We are looking to open markets in different countries on a reciprocal basis for our goods and services. And I do hope that in the years to come, we will see India becoming a major exporter of goods and services to China and the ASEAN region also," he said </span><span class="">. This aspiration stands in contrast to current trade realities. India's exports to ASEAN in FY2025-26 were approximately $38.96 billion against imports of $84.14 billion, leaving a deficit of over $45 billion </span><span class="">. India is pushing forward with the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), aimed at improving market access for Indian pharmaceuticals and agricultural products in Southeast Asian markets, though negotiators have missed previous deadlines for concluding the review </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="15" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-open-to-chinese-imports-hopes-to-boost-exports-to-china-and-asean-piyush-goyal/article71631167.ece" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="8" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/india-reviews-asean-fta-amid-widening-trade-gap-101783421837728.html#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="9" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">On the specific issue of China's new export controls on key machinery including tunnel boring machines, Goyal said the government "will work on it" </span><span class="">. The restrictions, announced on October 19 and effective November 18, could affect several Indian infrastructure projects including underground metro systems, high-speed rail lines and tunnels in border areas </span><span class="">. For India's engineering and construction sectors, this means procurement cycles for some projects may lengthen, with knock-on effects on project logistics planning and heavy equipment shipping arrangements.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="19" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-open-to-chinese-imports-hopes-to-boost-exports-to-china-and-asean-piyush-goyal/article71631167.ece" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="8" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/drill-baby-drill-china-turns-the-screws-india-looks-for-own-tools/articleshow/135067949.cms#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="10" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/we-will-see-india-becoming-major-exporter-of-goods-and-services-to-china-piyush-goyal/articleshow/135232787.cms" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="13" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">In the broader context of bilateral relations, Goyal's remarks continue the gradual repair of India-China ties following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. The two countries' leaders met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in September 2026 and agreed to address each other's concerns, including structural trade imbalances and supply chain issues, and to facilitate "meaningful and predictable market access" </span><span class="">. Goyal himself said on October 14 that India is working to "rebuild" relations with China, but "the last word on this journey has not yet been scripted" </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="22" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/world/indias-trade-deficit-with-china-crosses-100-billion-in-2026/article71583054.ece#1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="7" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-open-to-chinese-imports-hopes-to-boost-exports-to-china-and-asean-piyush-goyal/article71631167.ece" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="8" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">For Indian logistics and trade practitioners, the policy signal is relatively clear: India will not proactively restrict imports of Chinese intermediate goods and raw materials, given domestic manufacturing and infrastructure demand depend on them; at the same time, the government will push for export market diversification, with a focus on securing opportunities for agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and services in China and ASEAN. However, the continued expansion of the trade deficit means this rebalancing will be gradual. At the practical cargo level, container import demand on India-China routes is unlikely to ease in the near term, and whether Indian exports can gain supporting infrastructure in cold-chain logistics, inspection and quarantine, and port connectivity will determine whether Goyal's "major exporter" aspiration can translate from vision into measurable cargo growth.</span></p>
India Open to Chinese Imports, Aims to Become Major Exporter to China and ASEAN: Piyush Goyal
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on October 27, 2026, that India is open to Chinese suppliers meeting its growing import needs, provided any unfair pricing is addressed through established legal processes, while expressing hope that India will emerge as a major exporter to China and the ASEAN region in the coming years. The remarks come as India-China bilateral trade rose nearly 29% year-on-year to $91.76 billion in April–September of FY2026-27, making China India's largest trading partner in the first half. However, India's trade deficit with China continues to widen, crossing $105.93 billion in January–September 2026, up 20.7% year-on-year. India's trade imbalance with ASEAN also remains a concern, with a deficit exceeding $45 billion in FY2025-26.
