U.S. and Indian Officials Meet Under Trade Policy Forum
October 28, 2009U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ronald Kirk and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma met in New Delhi on October 26 for the sixth ministerial-level meeting of the United States-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF). The two governments signaled their readiness to continue their bilateral trade policy dialogue with renewed vigor under the five focus groups: agriculture, innovation and creativity, investment, services, and tariff and non-tariff barriers.
“The United States and India have a unique opportunity to draw on our cultural and entrepreneurial similarities to significantly increase two-way trade and investment,” said USTR Kirk. “American and Indian companies have already joined forces across a range of sectors. Our governments should work together to improve the environment for two-way trade even further, so that we can reap trade’s economic benefits for both our countries.”
Minister Sharma said, “The Trade Policy Forum provides opportunity for both governments to discuss and share their concerns and work towards resolving them. The potential for bilateral trade and commercial relations between the two countries are immense, and the forum can provide the necessary momentum to the expansion of this relationship. The inputs of the dynamic private sectors of the two countries have also enriched the forum.” Minister Sharma expressed “deep satisfaction” on the discussions that took place during the forum meeting. He noted the commitment shown by both countries for further deepening the mutual economic relations and said that the forum “has established a roadmap for further engagement in this regard.”
The two governments agreed to work together on a framework for promoting real and meaningful cooperation in trade and investment. They also agreed to work together to support greater involvement by small and medium enterprises in each other’s markets, and to pursue initiatives in the further development of India’s infrastructure, and collaboration on clean energy and environmental services, information and communications technologies, and other key sectors.
The delegations discussed the continued working of the United States-India Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG), which had been created under the TPF to provide strategic advice.
In closing his remarks, USTR Kirk stated, “It was our goal in coming to India to improve the tone and frankness of the discussions in the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum, and to that end this has been an extraordinary success. The bottom line, the United States is excited and committed to improving our relationship with India. I would like to think that my traveling to New Delhi twice in just under 60 days is evidence of that as well as previous visits by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other administration officials.”
