Trade war will help India emerge as bigger trading, manufacturing base: Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Friday said the ongoing global trade war may have created "initial instability", but will gradually open up opportunities for India to emerge as a bigger trading and manufacturing base.

The Trump administration's decision to impose tariffs on aluminium and steel imports has triggered a trade war with several countries including China, which have announced retaliatory measures.

Speaking at the annual session of PHD Chamber of Commerce, Jaitley said some global trends do "adversely affect" India, but going ahead they will open up avenues for the country to grow faster.

"The trade war initially created instability, but eventually may open up greater markets. They will open up India as a bigger trading and manufacturing base and, therefore, we must closely watch the situation as to when the challenge turns into an opportunity," Jaitley said in his video conference address.

Experts say the ongoing trade war between the US and China could make Indian products, like machinery, electrical equipment, vehicles and transport parts, chemicals, plastics and rubber products, competitive in the US markets.

India has been growing faster than major economies in the world, he said, adding, "I won't be surprised if for several years to come we continue in that direction. There are opportunities for growth. This is our opportunity to catch up on the slow growth we have experienced in the past. We still have avenues for faster growth."