India Wants China to Lift Trade Restrictions on Agro Products.

India expressed hope on Monday that China will soon drop trade restrictions on a wide array of Indian agricultural products as a way to offset a growing bilateral trade imbalance that rose to US$16 billion last year.

Meeting with government officials during a six-day tour of China, Indian Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas was optimistic after talks with his Chinese counterpart Niu Dun. Thomas said that progress was being made on the issue, citing the recent clearance of Indian mangoes for export. The exportation of beef and basmati rice remains an issue though. Both have passed health and safety tests, but are continuing to face bureaucratic delays with Chinese officials.

“Our message today was that one mechanism (to address the trade imbalance) is for India to export huge quantities of fruits, vegetables, mean and basmati rice,” Thomas said after Monday’s bilateral talks, according to The Hindu. “Their attitude was positive today, but we will have to have more interactions (on the issue).”

Over the last 10 years or so, India has tried to gain access to the Chinese markets for 17 of its agricultural products, successfully securing clearance for grapes, bitter gourds, and now mangoes. The other 14 varieties include seven fruits, like papayas and watermelon, and seven vegetables, like brinjal and okra.

Source :- 2point6billion.com/news