As the debate on outsourcing rages, the United States is of the view that India can create jobs in America taking advantage of its “fair tax policy”.
U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer also sought to downplay concerns that President Barack Obama was targeting American companies having operations in India ever since he called such businesses tax evaders. “There are some companies that try to take advantage of U.S. law, not in India; they try to manipulate U.S. law for the most part and create tax havens in other places in the world”, Mr. Roemer told reporters late Wednesday evening. The U.S. President is trying to target them and “go after”, he said.
Also speaking in the context of outsourcing to India, Mr. Roemer said the U.S. also believes “very, very deeply” in regard to trade issue. “You can create jobs in America, and have fair tax policy and double your exports”, he said.
Mr. Obama had said earlier this week, “If you are a business here, entirely located in the US, and investing in the U.S., and hiring workers in the U.S., you are paying a 35 per cent rate”.
“However, if you are a multinational and you are investing in India, and your workforce is in India, and your plants and equipment are in India, but your headquarters are here, you are taking deductions on all the expenses in India, but you are keeping your profits outside the U.S.; and that just doesn’t seem entirely fair”, he had argued.
Meanwhile, Roemer strongly backed U.S. solar technology firms initiating and expanding their exports to India. A trade mission of 15 U.S. solar companies is currently visiting Bangalore. The mission is headed by Acting Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Service, Mary Saunders. “There are 15 cutting-edge solar companies seeking local trading partners and project opportunities”, Mr. Roemer said.
