Analysts differ on their opinions on whether India stands to gain if there were to be a trade war between the U.S. and China, but the majority say India stands to benefit from the tensions.
The Economic Times reports that Seshadri Chari, a national executive member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, says,”China’s production strength requires a market, and the U.S. is no longer a Chinese market. At this stage, China cannot risk a meltdown in its economy. It’s too politically risky for Xi Jinping. They need a big market. And in Asia, we are the largest market. Today, India is dealing with China from a position of strength.“
“A protectionist America hurts China more than it hurts India, though India is not without concerns,” states Ashok Malik, a distinguished fellow at the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation.
“If the U.S. and China don’t get along, the U.S. will turn increasingly to India as a large Asian actor,” says Shashi Tharoor, a lawmaker with the opposition Congress Party and chair of India’s parliamentary standing committee of foreign affairs. He added, “And China, if its U.S. market contracts, will need to diversify its markets and investment outlets, including toward India.”
It would be “premature” to assume U.S.-China ties will nosedive given the scale of their interdependence, says Ashok Kantha, a former ambassador to China and director of the Institute of Chinese Studies in New Delhi.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
