From tariff cuts to MSP rollback: GTRI on likely US demands in India trade deal

New Delhi: The US is expected to propulsion for sweeping changes successful India's policies, ranging from tariff reductions to regulatory overhauls, that could payment American firms and exporters, nether the projected bilateral commercialized statement with India, deliberation vessel GTRI said connected Sunday. In the agri sector, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said the US demands see scaling backmost India's minimum terms support (MSP) programs for crops similar atom and wheat, removing restrictions connected genetically modified (GM) imports, and lowering workplace tariffs.

Similarly, connected dairy, the US argues that India's GM-free provender certification and installation registration protocols efficaciously barroom American dairy imports.

Indian rules prohibit imports from animals fed with animal-derived feed, for example, food from a cattle fed nutrient owed to spiritual sensitivities.

"India considers this argumentation non-negotiable," GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said.

He added that America whitethorn besides question easing of restrictions connected US retail giants similar Amazon and Walmart that look roadblocks owed to India's restrictions connected foreign-owned inventory-based e-commerce trading.

India resists the easing arsenic it has to support its tiny home retailers from unfair contention from deep-pocketed overseas firms.

"It besides views these restrictions arsenic portion of preserving regulatory autonomy successful a fast-evolving sector," Srivastava said.

The US criticises India's cumbersome licensing requirements for remanufactured and secondhand superior goods, calling the process costly and slow.

It said India mandates method certificates, enforces quantity restrictions, and demands a residual beingness warrant of astatine slightest 5 years for imports.

"India maintains that differentiating betwixt caller and remanufactured products is important to forestall dumping of obsolete technologies and to support section manufacturing," helium said, adding, "as negotiations proceed, Washington volition proceed pressing for wide-ranging reforms successful tariffs, standards, integer rules, and services access".