Katherine Tai is embarking on her maiden visit to India as US Trade Representative later this month. The two sides will resume the Trade Policy Forum after a gap of four years.
Biden administration’s focus on China and sticky issues relating to India’s reluctance to provide greater market access has meant the trade deal is off the table for now.
US had last March proposed retaliatory trade actions against India and other countries that imposed or were considering equalisation levy/digital services tax on e-commerce firms.
According to 2021 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the US goods trade deficit with India was $23.8 billion last year, a 1.7% increase over 2019.
US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, whose tenure ends this month, highlights issues of growing market access restrictions, increasing tariffs, limitations on free flow of data.
Mukesh Aghi, president & CEO of US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, says India should make some things easier for companies, like Vietnam & Cambodia do.
In an exclusive interview to ThePrint, Nisha Biswal, president of US-India Business Council, says India's policy structure is 'volatile' though the country has stable governance.
Finance ministry says the proposed revamp will focus on structural reforms, rate rationalisation & ease of living, & will be deliberated upon in the coming weeks.
Independence Day honours for ADG Strat Comm team behind Op Sindoor’s strategic messaging, including the logo designer, for real-time narrative control & countering misinfo.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
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