Over the last 60 years, India's foreign trade has undergone a complete change in terms of composition and direction. The exports cover a wide range of traditional and non-traditional items while imports consist mainly of capital goods, petroleum products, raw materials, and chemicals to meet the ever-increasing needs of a developing and diversifying economy. In recognition of the growing importance of the foreign trade in driving the economy, this book describes and examines changes in the pattern of India's foreign trade since Independence in 1947, with focus on post-1991 developments. The book addresses issues related to trade policy, export strategy, tariff policy, current account dynamics, exchange rate management, foreign exchange reserves, capital account liberalization, external debt and aid, foreign investments (both direct and portfolio), and the WTO.

In recognition of the growing importance of foreign trade in the Indian economy, this book provides a comprehensive description and analysis of post-Independence developments in India's foreign trade and allied sectors with focus on post-1991 period. The book covers the following specific topics: Changing Pattern of International Trade; Pre- and Post-Independence Developments in India's Foreign Trade; Compositional and Directional Shifts in Exports from India; Compositional and Policy Shifts in Imports into India; Foreign Trade Policy in Recent Years; Rationalisation, Simplification and Moderation of Customs Tariff Regime; Current Account Convertibility and Flows; Capital Account Convertibility and Flows; Exchange Rate Determination and Management; Foreign Exchange Reserves; External Debt and Aid; Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investment. The book provides special coverage to the following topics: (a) Globalisation and International Trade, (b) Global Economic Crisis and International Trade, (c) India's Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), (d) World Trade Organisation (WTO) and India's Foreign Trade and (e) Global Economic Crisis and the Indian Economy.