New Delhi: US Pushes for Major Policy Changes in India
The US is expected to push for sweeping changes in India’s policies, including tariff reductions and regulatory overhauls, under the proposed bilateral trade agreement, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).
In the agricultural sector, GTRI says the US demands include scaling back India’s minimum price support (MSP) programs for crops like rice and wheat, removing restrictions on genetically modified (GM) imports, and lowering farm tariffs. The US also argues that India’s GM-free feed certification and facility registration protocols effectively bar American dairy imports.
Indian rules prohibit imports from animals fed with animal-derived feed, such as butter from a cow fed meat due to religious sensitivities. "India considers this policy non-negotiable," GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said.
The US may also seek easing of restrictions on US retail giants like Amazon and Walmart, which face roadblocks due to India’s restrictions on foreign-owned inventory-based e-commerce trading. India resists the easing as it has to protect its small domestic retailers from unfair competition from deep-pocketed foreign firms.
The US criticises India’s cumbersome licensing requirements for remanufactured and secondhand capital goods, calling the process costly and slow. India mandates technical certificates, enforces quantity restrictions, and demands a residual life guarantee of at least five years for imports.
India maintains that differentiating between new and remanufactured products is crucial to prevent dumping of obsolete technologies and to protect local manufacturing. "As negotiations proceed, Washington will continue pressing for wide-ranging reforms in tariffs, standards, digital rules, and services access," Srivastava said.
Reference : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/from-tariff-cuts-to-msp-rollback-gtri-on-likely-us-demands-in-india-trade-deal/articleshow/120869336.cms
