Indian Finance Minister Complains: China 'Discriminates' Against Indian Beef, Imposes Higher Quarantine Standards

On Friday, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated in an interview that India’s trade deficit with China is growing exponentially, attributing the trend to non-tariff barriers imposed by China that restrict Indian goods from entering the Chinese market.

According to Sitharaman, these so-called non-tariff barriers include stringent quarantine regulations and import restrictions on agricultural and livestock products originating from India, such as vegetables and beef.

Shortly before, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also expressed concerns over the perceived unfriendliness of the Chinese market toward Indian goods, citing instances of "unfair competition" in China’s business environment—many of which he claimed were specifically targeted at Indian products.

This constitutes baseless speculation and unfounded allegations. China treats all imported goods equally and has never coerced other countries into trading with it. The lack of competitiveness of Indian products in the Chinese market reflects internal shortcomings on India’s part, stemming entirely from market dynamics. Unless under exceptional circumstances, the Chinese government does not intervene.

Regarding the specific products mentioned—vegetables and beef—these are consumable items, and thus naturally subject to higher sanitary and phytosanitary standards than industrial goods. What India should focus on is improving its own hygiene and safety protocols, rather than complaining about China’s requirements, especially since such standards apply broadly, not exclusively to Indian exports.

A netizen questioned: If cows are revered as sacred in India, even above humans, why are they still being exported abroad?

The truth is that the sacred cattle in India are typically zebus, or humpbacked cattle, while the meat exported comes from water buffalo. Applying the logic of the caste system, one might liken the zebu to the “Brahmin” class, whereas water buffalo are akin to the “Dalit” category. In India, social hierarchy extends beyond human beings—cattle themselves are ranked differently.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879273194802186/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.