India must cut trade barriers: US

United States today asked India to reduce barriers for increasing bilateral trade, and expressed hope of forward movement in the stalled World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks.

"There is hope for convergence. India is an important partner in WTO, and we are working together on the issue," Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia told reporters after meeting Commerce Minister Kamal Nath today.

Bhatia's statement comes even as WTO talks under are stuck as differences over farm subsidies and industrial tariffs persist among the US, EU and the developing countries led by India and Brazil.

"Trade is a priority area," Bhatia said, adding the two sides also discussed measures to enhance bilateral trade to $60 billion in the next three years.
"We are actively engaged in trade policy forum. We can increase trade in services, industrial goods, agriculture and intellectual property rights," he said.

Bhatia said a number of US companies were interested in coming to India, but wanted New Delhi to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. "There will always be some uncertainty. India must reduce trade barriers," he said.