No FTA with India for now: US

[OhioChick]

Source: Zee News India

Chicago, Feb 21: Not willing to tread the path taken by EU and ASEAN for market-opening trade pacts with India, the US said on Thursday that it is not ready for a free trade deal with the world`s second-fastest growing economy as it cannot fully open agricultural imports from American farmers.

"Quite honestly, it would be quite difficult, at this point of time for India to imagine doing that kind of a deal with the United States considering its sensitivities in agriculture," US Trade Representatives Susan Schwab said on the sidelines of India-US Summit for Small and Medium Enterprises in Chicago.

India is at advanced stages of negotiations on economic cooperation agreements with the EU, its largest trading partner, and ASEAN.

Commerce Secretary Gopal K Pillai said India`s free trade agreement with the European Union encompasses "substantial" trade, but Schwab said the US wants "almost 100 per cent" coverage.

This means, if India desires to have an FTA or economic cooperation agreement, it has to allow a zero duty market for everything, including highly-sensitive agriculture products.



Read more: http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=425769&sid=BUS

[InkAddict]

1. Oh boy! Just what America needs...

more Pickles, curried favors, and sacred cows.

The spicy condiment aisle is off-limits when budget-crunching--rice is loosing it's excitement.

[comtec]

2. well there's soy...

cheap, and a reasonable replacement for meat.
just sayin.
tho i do love me a nice steak!