Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has met US Trade Representative Ron Kirk and discussed ways of increasing bilateral commercial engagements through an institutional framework.
On Tuesday, the two leaders met, for the fourth time in the last six months, and reviewed the agenda for India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting to take place in New Delhi on October 26.
”... the United States and India are working together to create greater opportunities for trade and investment,” a statement from the USTR office said.
With bilateral trade exceeding USD 43 billion in 2008, India is the 18th largest supplier of goods to the US market.
Similarly, India was the 17th largest merchandise exports market for the US.
The statement said that Mr. Sharma and Mr. Kirk also “acknowledged the productive Doha Round discussions that took place last week in Paris”.
Negotiators from India and the US had met in Paris on October 9-10 to resolve the issues like protection to farmers of developing countries, when a global trade agreement under the Doha Round of WTO negotiations is signed.
Mr. Kirk will head the US delegation for meeting of the TPF, includes leading CEOs of both the countries.
The TPF deliberates on the difficulties faced by the business people of the both countries as regards the government policies and fiscal issues.
Mr. Sharma and Mr. Kirk also discussed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the US next month.
