US, India making efforts to step up trade engagement

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Oct 14 (PTI) Indian Commerce and Industry
Minister Anand Sharma has met US Trade Representative (USTR)
Ron Kirk and discussed ways of increasing bilateral commercial
engagements through an institutional framework.

The two leaders met Tuesday, for the fourth time in the
last six months, and reviewed the agenda for India-US Trade
Policy Forum (TPF) meeting to take place in New Delhi on
October 26.

"... the United States and India are working together to
create greater opportunities for trade and investment," a
statement from the USTR office said.

With bilateral trade exceeding USD 43 billion in 2008,
India is the 18th largest supplier of goods to the US market.

Similarly, India was the 17th largest merchandise exports
market for the US.

The statement said that Sharma and Kirk also
"acknowledged the productive Doha Round discussions that took
place last week in Paris".

Negotiators from India and the US had met in Paris on
October 9-10 to resolve the issues like protection to farmers
of developing countries, when a global trade agreement under
the Doha Round of WTO negotiations is signed.

Kirk will head the US delegation for meeting of the TPF,
includes leading CEOs of both the countries.

The TPF deliberates on the difficulties faced by the
business people of the both countries as regards the
government policies and fiscal issues.

Sharma and Kirk also discussed Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's visit to the US next month. PTI LKJ
ANU