India has warned its
traders to be wary in dealings with their Chinese counterparts who could supply
stones, bricks, mud, salt among other things in place of genuine orders.
"It is to
enhance the commercial cooperation between India and China by drawing attention
to some of the risks faced by Indian traders/SMEs to take preventive and/or
mitigating action," the advisory issued by the Indian consulate in
Shanghai said this week.
It said the traders
could be duped with "sand, stones, salt, bricks, mud etc. in place of
chemicals, Silicon Carbide, Aluminium and Zinc ingots, shellac, plastics,
polymers etc."
In the past, such
advisories have been put up on the website of the Indian embassy.
An official in the
Indian embassy described the advisory as a "routine thing".
"The bilateral
trade is increasing. The advisory is to encourage (traders) to follow due
diligence to avoid trade dispute," an official at the Indian embassy told
IANS.
"It's a routine
thing. Don't read too much into it," the official added.
Ties between both
nations have taken a hit after a string of issues in the past few months, the
latest being India's refusal to renew the visas of three Chinese journalists
based in India.
Beijing's opposition
to New Delhi's bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group is also one of
the irritants.
Trade deficit
between the two countries increased to $44.7 billion during April-January
period of 2015-16.
