India will seek abolition of non-tariff barriers during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China next week, officials said, as part of efforts to reduce a widening trade deficit and boost local industry.
New Delhi wants greater market access in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, IT services and farm products including bovine meat, Trade Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday.
India buys more than 60 percent of its bulk drugs from China mainly to produce generic drugs, but Beijing has not taken enough steps to ease rules to allow access to Indian generics - exported to more than 150 countries.
"India has also sought simplification and greater transparency in China's procedures relating to ... imports," the minister said in a written statement to the Lower House of parliament, ahead of Modi’s three-nation visit to China, Mongolia and South Korea from May 14-19.