Kautilya on international trade policies

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present Kautilya's ideas on international trade. Design/methodology/approach - A non-technical descriptive approach is followed. Findings - Kautilya implicitly proposes a theory of gains from trade and recommends imports promotion rather than export promotion. Research limitations/implications - It is indicated that our current understanding regarding international trade during ancient times is quite inadequate. Practical implications - There will be no need for current endless negotiations if countries commit themselves to Kautilya's policy of import promotion. Originality/value - The paper provides insights into trade patterns during the ancient times.