Summary of India-China Trade and Investment Relationship Industry Overview - The report focuses on the bilateral trade and investment relationship between India and China, highlighting its evolution and future prospects [3][4]. Key Points Trade Dynamics - India's trade deficit with China is the largest among its trade partners, amounting to **US$118 billion** [10][49]. - China's trade surplus with India is the largest among Asian economies, totaling **US$121 billion** [10]. - Bilateral trade between India and China has nearly doubled from **US$89 billion** in December 2015 to **US$161 billion** in July 2025 [10]. - China is India's largest bilateral trade partner [10]. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) - FDI flows from China to India have significantly decreased from **US$1.4 billion** (3.6% of total inflows) in 2015 to **US$0.09 billion** (0.2% of total inflows) in 2024 [10]. - India needs to align its manufacturing production structure with global demand to attract more FDI [7]. Manufacturing and Supply Chain - India is looking to integrate into the global manufacturing value chain, with China playing a pivotal role by providing FDI, technological know-how, and critical inputs [4][27]. - China accounts for **41%** of global manufacturing output, making it a crucial supplier for India [37][39]. - The share of global value chain-related trade rose to **50%** of global trade in 2022, indicating a shift towards more complex supply chains [9]. Sectoral Insights - Key sectors for trade include transport equipment and capital goods, which have seen increases in global export shares [9]. - India's imports from China are heavily weighted towards capital goods, which accounted for **56%** of its imports in 2024 [53]. Economic Imperatives - The report emphasizes the need for India to boost its manufacturing capabilities to address unemployment challenges and to leverage China's technological expertise [77]. - The geopolitical landscape poses risks to the growth of the trade relationship, with potential slowdowns due to political tensions [4][77]. Future Outlook - The bilateral trade relationship is expected to grow significantly, driven by India's need for manufacturing inputs and China's need for new markets amid declining exports to the US [56][77]. - India represents a significant growth opportunity for Chinese companies, with only **3.5%** of China's exports currently going to India [56]. Additional Insights - The report draws parallels with Vietnam's trade relationship with China, suggesting that India could similarly benefit from increased trade and investment [67]. - The shift in India's import mix towards capital goods indicates a growing reliance on China for manufacturing inputs [48][52]. This comprehensive analysis highlights the critical interdependencies between India and China, emphasizing the potential for growth in their trade and investment relationship while acknowledging the geopolitical risks involved.

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Viewpoints - Shifting business operations away from China is nearly impossible for other Asian economies due to China's central role as a market, supplier, and source of foreign direct investment [1][6][12] - Any trade restrictions imposed on China by other Asian economies would likely lead to retaliatory measures from China, severely impacting trade, capital flows, and growth prospects in the region [6][12][13] Summary by Sections Trade Restrictions and Challenges - The report analyzes which economies might be pressured to impose trade restrictions on China and concludes that most Asian economies outside of China would find it very difficult to implement such measures [3][6] - Economies like Vietnam, Thailand, and India, which have significant trade surpluses with the US and deficits with China, would struggle to impose tariffs on China due to their reliance on Chinese inputs [8][12] Economic Dependencies - China is a crucial source of final demand, inputs, and equipment for many Asian economies, particularly ASEAN countries, making it challenging for these economies to decouple from China [12][34] - Approximately 17% of exports from Asia (excluding China and Hong Kong) go to the US, while 16.6% go to China, highlighting the significant trade relationships within the region [12][26] Investment Flows - China accounts for 7.9% of foreign direct investment inflows into Asia (excluding China), with ASEAN economies being particularly reliant on Chinese investment [12][34] - The share of ASEAN in China's outward foreign direct investment has increased from 15% in 2018 to 20% in 2023, indicating growing economic ties [34][38] Supply Chain Implications - The report emphasizes that imposing tariffs on Chinese goods would disrupt the cross-border production networks in Asia, leading to inflation in consumer goods prices [12][30] - China holds a significant share in global exports of key products, such as mobile phones (37%) and computers (37%), meaning tariffs would likely lead to increased prices for these goods in other Asian economies [30][31] Conclusion - The report concludes that Asian economies are unlikely to impose trade and investment barriers against China, as it would severely disrupt their existing business models and economic growth [13][34]