US Presses India on Trade Balance, Barriers During Policy Forum

The U.S. seeks to reduce its $29.6 billion goods trade deficit with India and to identify and address trade barriers bearing on intellectual property rights, and on goods including manufactured and agricultural products, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said after conclusion of the annual U.S.-India Bilateral Trade Policy Forum on Oct. 27. “I am confident that with continued work, we will be able to accomplish these goals,” Lighthizer said in a statement. The U.S. pressed for strong outcomes in areas including non-science-based agricultural trade barriers, “continuing and new regulatory and technical barriers” impacting sales of “U.S. high technology and other products,” tariffs in several agricultural and industrial sectors, and protection and enforcement of IPR, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said. While “both sides had differing views that could not be resolved immediately,” the two sides agreed it is “critical” to continue strong engagement through “the coming months” to achieve concrete outcomes before the next forum in 2018, USTR said.