Chocko Valliappa Explains How Evidence-Based Policy Shaped a Turning Point in EU–India Textile Trade

Bangalore, India — February 2026: Chocko Valliappa, CEO of Vee Technologies, highlighted a lesser-known but defining moment in India’s textile trade history in a reflective commentary published in The Hindu Business Line. A fact-based transparency helped overturn long-standing anti-dumping duties imposed by the European Union.

Chocko emphasized that breakthroughs like the renewed momentum of the EU–India trade deal and India’s improved market access, are often built upon decades of persistent engagement, data discipline, and evidence-backed negotiation.

He recalled how, in the early 1990s, following investigations that relied on outdated and incomplete data, the European Union levied a 7.8% anti-dumping duty on Indian polyester cotton yarn exports. India, through the Synthetic and Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC), contested the ruling; triggering a rigorous exporter review in which five Indian companies were selected, including Sri Valliappa Textiles, led by Chocko’s father, C. Valliappa.

During the intensive review, every element of cost structure, from export pricing to internal efficiencies, was scrutinized by a 12-member EU audit team. After detailed verification, the EU accepted the company’s data and ultimately concluded that Indian exporters’ dumping margins fell below the de minimis threshold. The anti-dumping duty was formally repealed in 1994, restoring fair access to the European market.

Chocko highlighted this episode to illustrate a broader lesson: trade remedies must align with current realities, not outdated assumptions. As India and the EU now move toward deeper economic cooperation, he emphasized that long-term confidence in trade frameworks is built through transparency, data integrity, and consistent engagement.

He concluded that while today’s optimism around India’s textile exports is justified, it is important to recognize the historical efforts and fact-driven battles that laid the foundation for a more equitable trading relationship with Europe.

Source: Story of a correction in EU textiles trade policy - The HinduBusinessLine