Page 6 - The Indian EYE 012023

NATION JANUARY 20, 2023 | The Indian Eye 6

BEYOND WTO AND FREE TRADE DEAL:

What is the path forward for

India-US trade?

OUR BUREAU business, adding that the small mili-
tary deals have lost relevance today.
Washington, DC
The meeting between Goyal
nion Minister of Commerce and US Trade Representative Tai
and Industry Piyush Goyal provided the two ministers with the
Uon Wednesday said that India opportunity to review the work that
and US are looking to carve out bi- has taken place, since the re-launch
lateral solutions to the several long- of the TPF in November 2021, under
standing World Trade Organization the Forum’s working groups, and to
(WTO) disputes between the two provide their guidance on priorities
countries. to pursue as part of the TPF’s 2023
Piyush Goyal made these com- work program.
ments after the conclusion of the 13th At the conclusion of the meeting,
India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) the ministers issued a Joint State-
with his US counterpart United ment reflecting the results of the dis-
States Trade Representative Ambas- cussion.
sador Katherine Tai in Washington. “In her remarks during the TPF
“There was a very robust discussion meeting, Ambassador Tai emphasized
amongst the officials and today at the that the TPF is contributing directly
ministerial levels at finding solutions to the strength of U.S.-India bilateral
to the several WTO disputes that relations by providing a structure for
have been going on for several years Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal (ANI) constructive dialogue on trade policy
between US-India. These outstand- matters,” the US Commerce Depart-
ing issues are areas where both coun- convening the 13th meeting of the Union Commerce Minister stat- ment said in a statement.
tries have had some wins and some US-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF) ed that the US is currently not look- The ministers highlighted the
losses,” Goyal said during a press with US Trade Representative Kath- ing at any free trade deal with any work undertaken through the TPF
conference in Washington. erine Tai in Washington. “We are country as a matter of their political working groups since the 12th TPF
India has bigger ambitions in do- looking at much bigger ambitions policy. “So, I think that’s not some- Ministerial. They reiterated the im-
ing trade with the US than securing in our trade with the US. While of thing that’s on the table. So rather portance to India and the United
a free trade deal, said Piyush Goyal course, we are doing free trade deals than that we are focusing on greater States of specific trade issues enumer-
on Wednesday as he laid emphasis on we’ve concluded and entered into market access. We are focusing on ated in the 2021 TPF Joint Statement
greater market access, ease of doing force free trade deals with Australia ease of doing business between the and directed that work be maintained
business, and a larger footprint for and UAE. They’re in active dialogue two countries,” he added. to advance those issues towards res-
trade and investment between the with the UK with Canada with Israel Goyal said that India is looking olution, with regular stock-taking of
two countries. with EU,” Goyal said during a press at bilaterally in a much larger foot- progress by the ministers and their
Goyal made these remarks after conference in Washington. print for trade and investment and senior officials.

INDIA REQUESTS SPEEDY VISAS

nion Minister of Commerce on both sides, need to have faster pro- skilled workers, investors, and busi- their record as nearly, 1,25,000
and Industry Piyush Goyal cessing of business visas so that trade, ness travelers is expanding between student visas were issued in the fis-
Uon Wednesday said that In- investment does not suffer,” Piyush the two countries. “And that has cal year 2022.
dia requested the United States to Goyal said during a press conference helped increase our bilateral relations. “Our embassy and consulates
speed up the issuance of business after participating in the 13th In- We are grateful that the US was able in India broke their all-time record
visas so that people can undertake dia-US Trade Policy Forum in Wash- to process the student visas on an ex- for the number of student visas is-
short trips to pursue their business ington. “India has made the request pedited basis so that in the post covid sued in the single fiscal year 2022.
and trade interests. to the US that they may speed up scenario our students would come We have issued nearly 1,25,000
“We found very good reso- the issuance of regular business visas to the US to pursue their studies in student visas,” US State Depart-
nance to our request that issuance where people come in for short trips the fall of 2022 semester,” he added. ment Spokesperson Ned Price
of business visas which is taking a to pursue their trade and business in- This request to expiate business said in a press conference while
long time back home in India is an terest,” he added. visas comes a week after State De- responding to a query over the
area which needs to be expedited, Goyal underlined that the move- partment said that the US embassy slowdown in clearing visas backlog
so that business persons interested ment of professionals, students, and consulates in India have broken for Indian tourists.

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