Washington: US CommerceSecretary Carlos Gutierrez will seek India's 'full cooperation',specifically in efforts to liberalise trade in industrial and agriculturalproducts and services, to break a deadlock in world trade talks during a visitsoon.

 

India is increasingly becoming a vital and important partneron matters of security and trade and it will become a key player going forwardin the next Doha Round of trade talks, Gutierrez noted in an officialannouncement Thursday of his two-day India visit Feb 13-14.

"My visit will focus on expanding our bilateraleconomic relationship and working to increase USexports to India,"said Gutierrez, who will meet with Indian Commerce and Industry Minister KamalNath and other senior government officials and business leaders.

"I look forward to discussing with India'sgovernment the opportunities our two nations face as we strengthen ourrelationship and expand upon our economic successes,"he said.

"American companies should be exporting more to India, and India should work with us to makesure American exporters and businesses are treated fairly," saidGutierrez.

The two sides will discuss ways to promote opportunity andeconomic growth between them, the announcement said. The meetings will includediscussions on enforcing intellectual property rights, reducing red tape for UScompanies trying to do business in India and the United States-IndiaPeaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act signed by President George Bush inDecember 2006.

Gutierrez will reaffirm Bush's commitment to the AsiaPacific partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate initiated by him,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and the leaders of Australia,China, Japan and South Korea to reduce the intensityof carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

He will also give a major address to members of the AmericanChamber of Commerce and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce andIndustry (FICCI).

US Under Secretary for International Trade Frank Lavin ledthe largest US governmentbusiness development mission in history to India during Nov-Dec 2006. The mission included 250 American businessrepresentatives and state government officials who explored export opportunitiesto India.

The US isIndia'slargest trading partner, and through November that partnership was worth $29billion in two-way trade. US exports to India increased 25 percent fromJan-Nov 2005 through Jan-Nov 2006, and investment is up 10 percent.