India expands ban on imports from neighbor – media

New Delhi will no longer allow select jute and rope products from Bangladesh through land routes

India has imposed a ban on the import of select jute products and ropes from Bangladesh via all land routes, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported on Monday.

New Delhi will only allow jute imports through Nhava Sheva, a seaport in western India that is almost 1,200 miles from Bangladesh. 

“Import of certain goods from Bangladesh to India is regulated with immediate effect,” PTI quoted India’s director general of foreign trade as saying in a notification. The products included in the list are bleached and unbleached woven fabrics of jute or of other textile fibre; twine, cordage, rope, sacks and bags. 

In June, similar restrictions were placed on jute goods from Bangladesh. 

New Delhi’s relations with Dhaka have been strained since the ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

In May India banned imports of garments, processed foods, plastics, and wood furniture from its eastern neighbor. New Delhi took the steps after Dhaka restricted imports of Indian yarn via land. 

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Earlier this year, India withdrew a facility that allowed Bangladesh to use its land routes and ports to export goods to third countries, with the exception of Bhutan and Nepal. The Indian Foreign Ministry said the measure was taken after logistical delays and higher costs were hindering India’s exports and creating backlogs.

Bangladesh exported goods worth about $1.57 billion to India in the 2023-24 fiscal year. It exports about $700 million worth of garments to its neighbor annually.