India - U.S. Trade Policy Forum

Washington, DC
July 18, 2005

Fact Sheet

U.S. Ambassador Robert Portman and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath announce the establishment of a new consultative mechanism called “The United States-India Trade Policy Forum,” to be chaired by themselves or their Deputies. Other relevant U.S. Government agencies and Indian Ministries will also participate. The Forum will be part of the overall United States-India Economic Dialogue, replacing the Trade Policy Working Group pillar. It will convene on a regular basis.

The Forum will provide an opportunity to work together to expand trade between our two countries. Our governments will consider a wide range of issues of interest to both governments with the expectation of expanding bilateral trade and investment.

The agenda could cover the following subjects: tariff and non-tariff trade barriers; foreign direct investment; subsidies; customs procedures; standards, testing, labeling and certification intellectual property rights protection; sanitary and phytosanitary measures; government procurement; and services. It also offers the opportunity for our governments to work together bilaterally toward a successful outcome of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations..