Union minister Nitin Gadkari said that the government would definitely impose higher import duty on goods from China.
He said that such a move would be required to make Indian local industry more competitive.
Apart from higher import duties, there would have to be an emphasis on improving skills, quality of goods produced, and increasing their volume, in order to become an exporting nation, he said.
Gadkari, who holds the road transport and highways, and micro, small and medium enterprises portfolios, was speaking to Shashi Shekhar, editor-in-chief, Hindustan.