Coronavirus: India may impose duties on 100 top Chinese imports

China is India's largest source of imports with $70 billion worth of products reaching Indian markets from Chinese shores

The Commerce Department is considering imposing duties on over a 100 products that India imports heavily from China in light of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. The issue is set to be discussed early next week as the department meets with industry bodies to discuss the widening supply gap for key imports.

The government is currently walking a tightrope, balancing its demand priorities with the ambition to knock out Chinese goods and push domestic products in local markets. It aims to quickly leverage domestic manufacturing when Chinese factories remain closed by raising import duties on semi-finished or manufactured products.

However, India’s