Sir Isaac Newton predicted it in 1686.

"India will fire on all cylinders to achieve atmanirbharta (self-reliance) and could offer tax sops, procurement preference in government contracts for domestic produced goods while imposing stringent non-tariff barriers to discourage imports," reported the Economic Times. In retaliation for the attack on Indian soldiers in Ladakh, "The govt banned 59 Chinese mobile applications, including top social media platforms such as TikTok, Helo WeChat, to counter the threat posed by these applications to the country's 'sovereignty and security'." While protectionism in goods and services "supposedly limits competition, creates monopolies, raises costs, and stifles competitiveness and productivity" the same does not apply to the technology sector because, "Technology companies that don't innovate risk going out of business because local start-ups are constantly emerging to challenge them," wrote Vivek Wahwa. "The argument made is that at $77 billion China's exports to India far exceed its imports from the latter at $19 billion in 2018. Therefore, trade sanctions by India can inflict far greater injury on China than the other way around," wrote Prof Arvind Panagariya. Problem is, "In 2018, China's exports to India were only 3.1% of its total exports. In contrast, India's exports to China were 5.8% of its total exports." "Self-sufficiency means import substitution and reducing global trade and investment. This was the policy of Nehru and Indira Gandhi and ended in an economic disaster. From 1947 to 1980, GDP growth was a pathetic 3.5%," wrote SA Aiyar. "Over the past three years, the Modi government has reversed nearly three decades of trade liberalisation by raising tariffs on a range of goods," wrote Sadanand Dhume. "For the average Indian, the self-reliant decades before liberalisation were synonymous with shoddy products made by businesses whose success depended more on access to government than on providing better goods and services to customers." The best defense against China is to raise our economy to $10 trillion and for that we should sign free trade agreements (FTAs) with friendly developed countries such as the United Kingdom, European Union (EU) and Canada, suggested Panagariya. Trouble is that the EU demands massive cuts in taxes on cars and wines, whereas India has been raising tariffs on imports since 2018. Repeated on a larger number of imports in this year's budget, well before the fracas with Chinese troops. While stopping foreign imports Indians are furious at President Donald Trump's order suspending temporary work permits under H1B, H4 and L schemes. "It comes as no surprise that the US administration continues to use the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse to move forward with its xenophobic and racist plans," fulminated Anirban Das. If we have the right to stop others surely they have the right to stop us? Every action has a reaction.