India asks China to discuss fair market access amid thawing relations

India has called on China to tackle issues of market access, trade imbalance, and supply chain predictability as part of normalizing relations between the two Asian powers. The call comes amid ongoing tensions stemming from a border crisis that erupted in 2020.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar presented these concerns during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Manila. "However, there are also important aspects of our relations that need to be addressed. Equitable market access and the trade balance are high on this list. There are also concerns about the predictability of supply chains," Jaishankar stated in a release from New Delhi.

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However, there are also important aspects of our relations that need to be addressed. Equitable market access and the trade balance are high on this list. There are also concerns about the predictability of supply chains.

Bilateral contacts between India and China have gradually resumed since 2024, with progress including the mutual reissuance of visas, reopening of border trade, and the restoration of direct flights. However, India's trade deficit with China exceeded $99 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year, larger than with any other country. This widening gap has caused significant concern in New Delhi, according to a report from the Indian Embassy in Beijing.

The trade dispute has even reached the World Trade Organization, where Beijing has pushed for the establishment of two panels to discuss India's imposition of tariffs on Chinese high-tech goods, energy, and automotive sectors. "It is natural that, as two large and important nations, and also very close neighbors, India and China will have their own particular interests. That is why our leaders agreed that differences should not become disputes. It is the responsibility of diplomacy to manage them properly," Jaishankar added.

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It is natural that, as two large and important nations, and also very close neighbors, India and China will have their own particular interests. That is why our leaders agreed that differences should not become disputes. It is the responsibility of diplomacy to manage them properly.