New Delhi, Aug. 20 -- China's decision to ease export restrictions on fertilisers, rare earths, and tunnel-boring machines for India is a positive step, but self-reliance remains the only durable safeguard for India against its widening trade deficit with China, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said in a report.

The think tank cautioned that India cannot overlook its deep reliance on Chinese imports, even as Beijing relaxes some curbs.

The development follows China's earlier restrictions on critical minerals such as gallium, germanium, and graphite, which disrupted India's electronics and electric vehicle sectors.

In June 2025, battery major CATL even withdrew engineers from Foxconn's Chennai plant, halting operations.

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