India's Trade Relations with China and Russia in the Context of WTO

Abstract

Trade between China and India has grown rapidly in recent years, and has received a further political impetus from the visit of the Chinese premier to India in April. After briefly summarising the relevant sections of the Report of the Joint Study Group on Comprehensive Trade and Economic Cooperation that was set up by the two governments, this essay examines two issues that deserve greater attention. First, the use of anti-dumping duties by India against imports from China and Russia in the context of both being treated as non-market economies; second, a possible Free Trade Agreement between India and China. The essay concludes that there are strong economic and political arguments for improving bilateral trade and communications and for modifying anti-dumping procedures, but the case for a bilateral FTA is not that strong.