India, Jan. 24 -- As global trade tensions intensify and tariff barriers re-emerge as policy weapons, India's sheer market size and sustained infrastructure push will ultimately determine its bargaining power with the world, Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

Speaking during a panel discussion, Mittal argued that in an era of rising protectionism, countries that can scale consumption, production and technology will command leverage in trade negotiations. "In the end, you have to make yourself stronger to get the best deal," he said. "We have seen how China was not pushed back by the US the way they wanted to, and they quickly backed off. We have to make ourselves b...