NEW DELHI: Indian and Chinese companies signed commercial deals worth nearly $2.36 billion (Rs 15,389 crore) on Saturday, ahead of a proposed meeting between commerce minister Suresh Prabhu and his Chinese counterpart Zhong Shan that would seek to stabilise bilateral relations amid talk of a global trade war Escalating trade tensions between China and the US may have prompted the former to improve ties with India, said experts. While India-China trade grew to $84.44 billion in 2017, trade deficit rose to $51.75 billion, registering an 8.5% on-year rise.Prabhu and Zhong will explore ways to reduce a burgeoning trade deficit, according to people aware of the development.The commerce minister level meeting is part of a series of confidence building measures aimed at stabilising ties, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China in June for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and bilateral meet.The commercial deals inked by Indian and Chinese companies will give a fillip to trade in black tea, castor oil, peppermint oil, coco fibre, green coffee bean and other products. Representatives of 30 Chinese companies are visiting India, said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified.Besides discussing and exploring ways to expand bilateral commerce and making it more balanced, Prabhu and Zhong are also likely to discuss the recent US trade moves, which have targeted both India and China. US President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum that could impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China to the US. China, in its first response to the offensive launched by the US, announced plans for reciprocal tariffs on $3 billion of imports from the US to China.Besides, the US dragged China to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over allegedly discriminatory technology licensing requirements in the communist country. Earlier this month, the US also challenged India’s export subsidies scheme at the WTO.And last month, Trump expressed his displeasure over high import duty imposed by India on high-end motorcycles such as the ones made by Harley-Davidson and other US companies. Apart from discussing bilateral issues, Prabhu and Zhong might also discuss issues related to global trade, said another person.Last year, Chinese media had criticised India for imposing anti-dumping duties on more than 93 Chinese products such as chemicals, machinery items, steel and other metals, fibres and yarn, rubber and plastic, electronics and consumer goods.Anti-dumping duties aim to create a level playing field for Indian manufacturers who are unable to match the lower prices offered by their Chinese rivals.India is one of the largest manufacturers of generic drugs, but it has not been able to export generic drugs to China, its largest trading partner, because of China’s protectionist policies. Indian pharmaceutical companies have urged the commerce ministry to take up the matter with China.