For now India (is among the very few countries that) has trade surplus against China but that might change very soon.
The surplus, I must sadly note is actually because of steel. We are selling it to the Chinese, helping their economy grow instead of ensuring cheaper construction material for our own infrastructure projects and for our own auto industry. :(
I live in China and I can see a lot of really crappy Chinese textiles on sale in China itself. To claim that India doesnt make high-quality stuff is rubbish. Actually, most sourcers turn to India for high-end stuff and to China for low-end clothing. Recent news reports also seemed to suggest the same.
But however, I take this with a pinch of salt. A lot of foreigners who live in China are blinded by Sinophilic urges. Especially the "I wish I was Chinese. I am American but I hate Bush" variety. The guy who writes this blog has a Chinese wife and seems more of a pro-China activist although I haven't read his other posts. Dont read much into it. Also, to claim India doesn't have the scale is only in terms of big buyers like Walmart and Ikea. But even they source from India. I seriously doubt that China can "export" to India at more competitive prices than the local industry. I think its more the fakes that are available in China that are being smuggled into India that you can find in all these street corner fashion shops that is the focal point of the blog. This we have always had. Before it was Thailand and Indonesia from where such clothes were smuggled, now its China.
The surplus, I must sadly note is actually because of steel. We are selling it to the Chinese, helping their economy grow instead of ensuring cheaper construction material for our own infrastructure projects and for our own auto industry. :(
I live in China and I can see a lot of really crappy Chinese textiles on sale in China itself. To claim that India doesnt make high-quality stuff is rubbish. Actually, most sourcers turn to India for high-end stuff and to China for low-end clothing. Recent news reports also seemed to suggest the same.
But however, I take this with a pinch of salt. A lot of foreigners who live in China are blinded by Sinophilic urges. Especially the "I wish I was Chinese. I am American but I hate Bush" variety. The guy who writes this blog has a Chinese wife and seems more of a pro-China activist although I haven't read his other posts. Dont read much into it. Also, to claim India doesn't have the scale is only in terms of big buyers like Walmart and Ikea. But even they source from India. I seriously doubt that China can "export" to India at more competitive prices than the local industry. I think its more the fakes that are available in China that are being smuggled into India that you can find in all these street corner fashion shops that is the focal point of the blog. This we have always had. Before it was Thailand and Indonesia from where such clothes were smuggled, now its China.