India seeks to ban Chinese-made budget phones in delicate balancing act

Redmi Note 11 screen on against gray floor

Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority
  • The India/China market contention continues with India planning to block cheap Chinese phones.
  • The ban, if instituted, would apply to phones cheaper than Rs. 12,000 (~$151).
  • India must delicately balance this potential block with its desire for more Chinese investment.

Since the 2020 China-India skirmishes, relations between the two largest countries by population have been tense. This tension is made all the more complicated by India’s reliance on China when it comes to its economy, specifically smartphones.

However, India is still ready to hit China where it hurts: its finances. According to Bloomberg, India is working on a legal plan that would essentially ban the sale of Chinese-made smartphones at prices below Rs. 12,000 (~$151). If instituted, this ban would help Indian-made smartphones in that category while simultaneously continuing to allow Chinese-made phones to dominate the premium market.

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