Worrisome export dip

Indian merchandise exports dipped 3.67 percent to $25.7 billion in February, sparking fears that targets for the year ($325 billion) will not be met. The government has blamed weaker demand from Europe and the United States for the fall, but industry experts say an inability of exporters to stay competitive, a stronger rupee, slackness in finalising a trade deal with the European Union and a slowdown in the domestic manufacturing sector have contributed to the dip. So far Indian merchandise exports have totaled $282.7 billion.