India held that China has not provided "sufficient scientific evidences" for restricting export of its agricultural items to the neighbouring country. China has banned imports of Indian basmati rice, fruits and vegetables.

The issue of market access for Indian agricultural products has consistently been taken up with the Chinese authorities but the Chinese authorities repeatedly requested lifting India's ban on import of milk and milk products from China which was extended for six months on December 26, 2011. The export of basmati rice from India to China could not commence because of the issues of pest control and monitoring of quarantine pests in processing and storage houses in India.