Washington: The United States is expected to ease restrictions on export of high- tech and "dual-use" goods to India following talks between US policymakers and visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal.

Sibal and US Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth Juster met on February 5 and agreed on the principles that would govern India-US bilateral high technology commerce, including trade in dual-use goods and technologies, an Indian Embassy statement said.

"It represents a significant step in expanding the strategic content of the relationship," it said.

The two sides agreed to take steps to promote and facilitate such trade by addressing systemic barriers to such trade, generating market awareness, conducting industry outreach programmes, reviewing policies and processes on export of dual-use goods and technologies to India, and pursuing export control co-operation.

"The US government appreciated the importance that the government of India attaches to the widest possible access to US dual-use goods and technologies."

The US government would review the policies and processes for certain category of goods and the two sides would work out arrangements for authorised transfers of goods and technologies, controlled for nuclear proliferation and missile technology, for civilian applications in India.

The bilateral high technology co-operation group, first such group that the US has with any country, will hold consultations and initiate activities to implement the principles.

PTI