US crackdown on low-value Chinese e-commerce shipments opens doors for Indian exporters: GTRI

15 Apr 2025 Evaluate

With US tariffs changing the global trade dynamics, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) in its report has indicated that US crackdown on low-value Chinese e-commerce shipments has opened a rare and potentially lucrative window for Indian exporters. According to the GTRI, India having over 100,000 e-commerce sellers and $5 billion in current exports, is well positioned to fill the gap left by China--particularly in customized, small-batch products like handicrafts, fashion, and home goods. However, it has raised doubts about India's current trade system, which is still being geared toward large, traditional exporters--not small online sellers and suggested urgent reforms to seize the opportunity.

More on reforms, GTRI suggested reforms in banking systems hinting the Indian banks being a major hurdle as they struggle to handle the high volume and small-value nature of e-commerce exports. The report suggested that the RBI should raise the gap between declared shipping value and final payment to 100 percent, as the current 25 percent gap is too tight for online exports, where discounts, returns, and platform fees often lead to larger differences, meanwhile, giving banks flexibility to approve legitimate cases would help the small e-commerce exports to flourish further. Besides, GTRI highlighted that bank fees creating issues for the low-value exporters as reconciling each small shipment can cost Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000--sometimes half the shipment's value and these charges should be waived for low-value exports, and processes must go fully digital. It added that RBI should also set strict service timelines and grievance mechanisms to ensure timely support for exporters. 

Highlighting other issues faced by small exporters, GTRI has emphasized the need of India's customs system to move to online mode with 24/7 automated inspections and easy-to-follow digital checklists for small exporters. It added that the courier-mode shipments should also be updated to accommodate terms like ‘Delivered Duty Paid (DDP),’ ensuring that paperwork matches real-world logistics and avoids unnecessary delays. GTRI’s report also emphasized the need for a mechanism for better access to the credit as the big players get 7-10 percent interest loans and purchase-order-based financing, the small online sellers pay 12-15 percent and are left out of public credit programs. GTRI suggested including small online sellers under priority sector lending could help level the playing field. Additionally, it also emphasized the need to extend incentives for the exporters, adding that the extension of the advance authorization scheme, RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products), duty drawback, etc.

© 2025 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×