US to seek India's help in liberalising trade in agri products

WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Agencies): US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez will seek India's full cooperation in advancing the Doha round of global free trade talks, specifically efforts to liberalise trade in industrial and agricultural products during his visit to India next week.

Pushing up American exports to India would also be high on the agenda of the Commerce Secretary, who will hold talks with senior government officials including Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

"My visit will focus on expanding our bilateral economic relationship and working to increase US exports to India.I look forward to discussing with India's government the opportunities our two nations face as we strengthen our relationship and expand upon our economic successes," Gutierrez said in a statement here.

"American companies should be exporting more to India, and India should work with us to make sure American exporters and businesses are treated fairly," he said.

Gutierrez noted that India is increasingly becoming a vital and important partner on matters of security and trade and that the country will become a key player going forward in the next Doha Round of trade talks.

During the visit, the senior commerce official will stress to Indian officials the importance of India's full cooperation in advancing the Doha negotiations in the WTO, specifically efforts to liberalize trade in industrial and agricultural products as well as services.

The US is India's largest trading partner, and through November that partnership was worth USD 29 billion in two-way trade.

US exports to India increased 25 per cent from Jan-Nov 2005 through Jan-Nov 2006.