The United States has formally communicated its apprehensions to India regarding the import regulations concerning various information and communications technology (ICT) products, including laptops and tablets.
This move comes amidst India's decision to impose restrictions on the inflow of such goods.
According to the National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers 2024 released by the United States, there's a requirement for authorization for importers of specific IT hardware items into India. The report further highlighted concerns raised by American exporters regarding the lack of prior stakeholder consultations on these matters.
"The United States continues to monitor implementation and to raise concerns with India," stated the report. It criticized India's application of quantitative restrictions, labeling it as 'opaque and unpredictable,' which, according to the report, has hindered the ability of U.S. exporters to penetrate the Indian market.
The report indicated that the United States, along with other trading partners, has been voicing these concerns at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Additionally, efforts have been made to address issues related to the Indian dairy market through channels like the Trade Policy Forum (TPF).
On the subject of intellectual property rights (IPR), the report mentioned ongoing discussions between the U.S. and India aimed at bolstering IP protection and enforcement within India. However, concerns persist regarding India's procurement policies, with the report noting inconsistencies among different ministries within the Central Government.
In the services sector, particularly in insurance and electronic payments services, the report highlighted disparities favoring domestic suppliers over foreign ones, thus creating what it termed an 'unlevel' playing field. The U.S. also urged India to adopt an 'open skies' satellite policy in the telecom sector to facilitate market access for foreign satellite service providers.
The report pointed out challenges faced by U.S. firms in India's internet services landscape, citing an increasing number of takedown requests for content deemed politically motivated. It also criticized India's IT Rules for lacking transparency and uniform notice and comment procedures.
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai, upon releasing the 2024 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE Report), emphasized the importance of addressing these barriers to ensure fair trade practices and greater market access for American goods and services in key export markets, including India.
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