NEW DELHI: India will pitch hard for the US to ease export controls on assorted high-technology sectors in negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the world’s largest economy.
Indian negotiators wrapped up the talks under mutually agreed terms of reference (ToR) between the two countries late last week. New Delhi wants that the US should enable Indian firms to upgrade and operate in cutting-edge tech sectors like telecommunications equipment, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, quantum computing and semiconductors, sources privy to the matter said. Both sides insist that India will be the first country to have a trade deal with the US to avoid reciprocal tariffs.
The Indian team was led by additional secretary Rajesh Agrawal, who is also commerce secretary-designate.
According to the sources, in the area of high-tech, India is seeking “parity treatment,” which would effectively make Washington to be much more liberal in tech transfers.
While the US is keen on greater market access for farm goods and e-commerce besides data sharing and intellectual property rights (IPR), India is using the BTA opportunity to address the long-standing issue of restricted access to US technologies, the sources added.
The high-technology partnership, including in civil nuclear energy, has been the subject of discussion in many groups and initiatives undertaken by India and the US. The inclusion of the tech trade issue in the BTA would open another channel of communication of this collaboration, the sources said.
Other details of the discussions in the US are not immediately known but the agenda was also to finalise the details of the ToR regarding the level of ambition of opening up of trade by both sides.
On tech trade, India might seek parity with the access that the US has offered to Australia and the UK. UK and Australia have got this access under Australia, UK, US (AUKUS) security pact. India may seek some concessions as a member of the Quad, which includes the US, India, Australia and Japan.
“The US has simplified rules for sharing defence and dual-use technologies with Australia and the UK. Beginning September 1, 2024, about 80% of defence-related exports to these countries no longer require individual licences under revised US arms regulations,” a GTRI report said.
Currently, there are many forums where high-technology trade is being discussed between India and the US. The US-India Joint Leaders Statement issued on February 13, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump, stated that both leaders determined that their governments redouble efforts to address export controls, enhance high technology commerce, and reduce barriers to technology transfer between our two countries, while addressing technology security.
The leaders also announced the launch of the US-India TRUST (“Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology”) initiative, which will catalyse government-to-government, academia and private sector collaboration to promote application of critical and emerging technologies in areas like defence, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum, biotechnology, energy and space. This initiative will also encourage the use of verified technology vendors and ensure sensitive technologies are protected.
The launch of INDUS Innovations during the meeting will advance US-India industry and academic partnerships and foster investments in space, energy, and other emerging technologies.
Apart from the new initiatives, the effort for deepening technology collaboration between India and the US has been going on at various levels and groups for the past many years. Trade talks will add a new dimension to it.
Source: The Financial Express
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