India’s wait-and-watch game as textile producers from 51 developing countries join their American counterparts in a petition filed by the US textiles industry to restraint the imports of textiles and apparel into America is indeed gaining much interest for the exim community.

The restrictions are sought to be imposed on China which means India whose 26 percent of exports to the US is made up of textiles will profit a lot.

During my last visit to the US, I have seen that garment importers there are focusing on a few countries like China and India. And India has to fight it out with its main competitor, China, for a strong position in the US and other markets.

However, India also shown great responsibility in trying to help out less fortunate textile producers to gain access to the global market.

Being a leading powerhouse in the global arena, a move to lend a helping hand to countries like Mauritius, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will indeed do a world of good not only to its external affairs but also in its future bilateral ventures. Exim Inc. must also understand that there is enough space for India to thrive.

I think India can also suggest that such helpless textile producers should seek improved preferential treatment from the textile-importing countries and assistance from multilateral financial institutions rather than seek help from the WTO.