Imports of textiles and clothing from China will not be significant and will not threaten domestic industry, the Indian Textiles Minister said in a letter to the Upper House of the Indian Union. In the 2007/08 fiscal year, India imported textiles and clothing from China worth US$1.37 billion, compared with US$1.14 billion a year ago. In October 2008, India’s textile exports fell by 16.5%. This was due to the economic recession in India’s main export markets, the United States and the European Union.
From April to October 2008, India’s textile and apparel exports were US$12.14 billion, an increase of 5.25% from US$11.53 billion a year ago.
India’s Textile Minister said that industry and trade associations submitted applications before the government’s assessment of the impact of cheap imports on unemployment in the textile and clothing industry. The government has not released detailed unemployment figures so far.
