How did the policy of free trade hurt Indian textile industry and crafts in the latter half of the 19th century?
The collapse of Indian textile and crafts was a result of British economic policies. This collapse was caused largely by the influx of British goods at cheaper rates to the Indian market.
The Act of 1813 imposed one-way trade policy on India. Indian market was soon invaded by the British goods, particularly the cotton textiles. Indian goods made with primitive techniques could not compete with goods produced on a mass scale by machines.
Abolition of tariff rates on such imports and hike of taxes on the Indian textiles fueled further degeneration of industries. The ruin of the Indian textile industry and craft was hastened by introduction of the railways. The railways were laid in such a way that the British capitalist used this medium to supply their goods, to the interiors of the country. It ruined the indigenous craft industry.
Similarly the iron, pottery, glass, paper, metal oil pressing, tanning and dyeing industries were also ruined. The high import duties and other restrictions imposed on the import of Indian goods into Britain led to virtual closing of European market for Indian manufacturers.
Encouragement by the government to export Indian raw material greatly injured Indian handicrafts and cottage industries due to the price rise.
The free trade policies of the British made India an importer of the British goods. It altered the earlier position of India as the supplier of cotton and other raw materials to the British.
The collapse of Indian textile and crafts was a result of British economic policies. This collapse was caused largely by the influx of British goods at cheaper rates to the Indian market.
The Act of 1813 imposed one-way trade policy on India. Indian market was soon invaded by the British goods, particularly the cotton textiles. Indian goods made with primitive techniques could not compete with goods produced on a mass scale by machines.
Abolition of tariff rates on such imports and hike of taxes on the Indian textiles fueled further degeneration of industries. The ruin of the Indian textile industry and craft was hastened by introduction of the railways. The railways were laid in such a way that the British capitalist used this medium to supply their goods, to the interiors of the country. It ruined the indigenous craft industry.
Similarly the iron, pottery, glass, paper, metal oil pressing, tanning and dyeing industries were also ruined. The high import duties and other restrictions imposed on the import of Indian goods into Britain led to virtual closing of European market for Indian manufacturers.
Encouragement by the government to export Indian raw material greatly injured Indian handicrafts and cottage industries due to the price rise.
The free trade policies of the British made India an importer of the British goods. It altered the earlier position of India as the supplier of cotton and other raw materials to the British.