In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Government has banned the import of milk and milk products and some steel products and also mobile phones from China but only if they are of sub-standard quality or fail to follow security codes.
Mobile phones not bearing the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity number or other security features will not be allowed to import from China.
The reason cited by the Ministry is to ‘protect environment, life and health of its people, plants and animals.’
The Minister said India’s trade deficit with China stood at $48.68 billion during 2015-16 (April-February) and the total bilateral trade was $65.16 billion during the period.
She also explained that due to WTO rule complete ban from any country is not allowed even if diplomatically, territorially or militarily problems exist.
