A Bloomsberg report says India plans to welcome factories leaving China by designating a 461,589-hectare land pool for manufacturers. The land, including existing industrial land in Tamil Nadu, could also include available land in special economic zones where infrastructure is already in place. The Central government is reportedly working with states to ease land acquisition impediments. Already, manufacturers from the US, China, Japan and South Korea have reportedly expressed interest in this investment.

India currently accounts for 7.5 per cent of US apparel and textiles imports, and its growth over the year to March was flat. The country ranks 63rd on World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 report for ease of conducting business. It ranks among the top 10 improving nations as far as starting a business and trading across borders is concerned.

On the other hand, China’s share of US apparel and textiles imports has fallen 39 per cent year over year. Now the country accounts for less than 31 per cent of the market, according to data from the US Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA). Much like its non-China sourcing players, the country is suffering from order drought and ever-escalating tensions with the US, which could further complicate trade in the not-distant future.