India on Friday defended its ban on the import of Chinese toys following a report which said Beijing could challenge the move before the World Trade Organisation.
India prohibited the import of Chinese toys in January for six months.
The ban was implemented on the grounds of "public health and safety", Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said, adding that the action was "compliant" with WTO rules.
"India is a responsible country and before we take any action we make sure that it should be WTO-compatible," Nath told reporters in the Indian capital.
Some Indian analysts have suggested the move was aimed at shielding India’s struggling toy industry against a flood of Chinese imports.
According to the Mumbai-based All India Toy Manufacturers Association, Chinese products make up more than half of India’s retail toy market, which was estimated to be over 25 billion rupees (500 million dollars) in 2007.
Earlier this week, the state-run China Daily reported Beijing would be likely to ask the WTO if the Indian ban violated the trade body’s rules.