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05 February 2003

U.S., India Sign Agreement Boosting Bilateral High Technology Trade

(Statement of principles addresses trade barriers, among other issues)
(610)
U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth I. Juster and Indian Foreign
Secretary Kanwal Sibal signed an agreement February 5 to boost
bilateral high technology trade between the two countries, including
trade in dual-use goods and technologies, according to a February 5
Department of Commerce press release.
The Statement of Principles for U.S.-India High Technology Commerce
recognizes "the untapped potential for U.S.-India high-technology
commerce, the need to address economic and systemic issues inhibiting
such trade (including tariff and non-tariff barriers), the need to
engage in outreach and trade promotion to U.S. and Indian industry on
market opportunities, and the central role of the private sectors in
generating increased bilateral high-technology commerce," said the
press release.
The Statement of Principles, according to the release, fulfills the
commitment made by President Bush and Prime Minister Vajpayee in
November 2001 "to qualitatively transform U.S.-India relations,"
according to the press release.
The first meeting of the India-United States High Technology
Cooperation Group will convene in the near future, said the press
release.
Following is text of February 5 Department of Commerce press release
announcing the U.S.-India Statement of Principles:
(begin text)
United States Department of Commerce
Bureau of Industry and Security
For Immediate Release
February 5, 2003
United States and India Sign a Statement of Principles for 
Bilateral High-technology Commerce
U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth I. Juster and Indian Foreign
Secretary Kanwal Sibal today signed a Statement of Principles for
U.S.-India High Technology Commerce. The Statement of Principles is a
significant achievement in fulfilling the commitment made in November
2001 by President Bush and Prime Minister Vajpayee to qualitatively
transform U.S.-India relations.
"There is immense potential for trade in the high-technology sector
between the United States and India, in areas ranging from information
technology to telecommunications to biotechnology," explained Juster.
"The Statement of Principles that was signed today will serve as the
framework for advancing such trade between our two countries
consistent with our national security and foreign policy interests."
In the Statement of Principles, the governments of the United States
and India recognize the untapped potential for U.S.-India
high-technology commerce, the need to address economic and systemic
issues inhibiting such trade (including tariff and non-tariff
barriers), the need to engage in outreach and trade promotion to U.S.
and Indian industry on market opportunities, and the central role of
the private sectors in generating increased bilateral high-technology
commerce. The Statement of Principles also recognizes both
governments' commitment to preventing the proliferation of sensitive
goods and technologies, and notes the need to facilitate high
technology trade consistent with laws and national security and
foreign policy objectives.
Under Secretary Juster and Foreign Secretary Sibal first met in Delhi
in November 2002 and pledged to consider steps that could be taken to
enhance bilateral high technology trade, including trade in dual-use
goods and technologies between the two countries.
In 2001, India ranked 28th among the United States' export markets,
behind such substantially smaller economies as Ireland and the
Dominican Republic. U.S. high-technology companies have been
interested in increasing their presence in the Indian economy,
although many have expressed concerns about tariff and non-tariff
barriers to entry.
The two governments plan to convene the first meeting of the
India-United States High Technology Cooperation Group in the near
future to develop a schedule of activities to further the Statement of
Principles.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)