Amitabh Kant, who served as India’s G20 Sherpa, recently stated that China has a responsibility to facilitate greater market access for emerging economies. Specifically, Kant argued that China should allow other BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, and newer members—to increase their exports into the Chinese market to foster more balanced trade relations.

This call comes as BRICS continues to expand its influence and membership, aiming to create a stronger economic counterweight to Western-led financial institutions. While the bloc emphasizes mutual cooperation and the development of the 'Global South,' trade disparities remain a point of friction. China currently maintains a significant trade surplus with many of its BRICS partners, leading to calls from officials in countries like India for more equitable trade terms.

There is no official response from Beijing regarding Kant’s specific comments at this time. The discourse surrounding BRICS trade policy often pits the desire for collective economic strength against the reality of China’s dominant manufacturing capacity. While proponents of the bloc argue that internal market integration is essential for long-term success, critics point to the difficulty of aligning the diverse economic interests of member states, particularly when one nation holds such a significant share of the group's total industrial output.