India, China sign protocol for export of Indian chilli meal

India and China Thursday signed a protocol for export of Indian chilli meal to the neighbouring country, the commerce ministry said.

It was signed after a meeting of Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan and General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) Vice Minister Li Guo here.

Both the sides "discussed trade-related issues of pending Indian request for clearance of agricultural products".

"At the end of the meeting, a protocol was signed for export of chilli meal from India to China," the ministry said in a statement.

Both the sides also agreed to resolve market access issues expeditiously in order to achieve the vision of the leaders of both India and China by promoting a more balanced trade.

The meeting assumes significance as India is seeking greater market access for its manufactured and agricultural products in the Chinese market to bridge the widening trade deficit.

Recently, India has identified and shared with China a list of 380 products, including horticulture, textiles, chemicals and pharmaceutical products, as their shipments hold huge export potential.

Increasing exports of these products will help India narrow the widening trade deficit with China, which stood at USD 50.12 billion during April-February 2018-19. Indian exporters face certain non-tariff barriers in the Chinese market that are restricting exports.

Commenting on India-China trade, Mohit Singla, chairman of Trade Promotion Council of India, said that India will see enhanced trade in non-basmati rice, mango pulp, sesame seed and tea along with soybean, rapeseed and fish oil owing to strong government intervention and strategic efforts.

"The industry is eagerly awaiting the market access to meat sector and enhanced cooperation in the marine products," he said.