Press Releases 2005

Commerce Under Secretary David H. Mccormick Visits India to Discuss Efforts to increase High Technology Trade

28 November 2005

NEW DELHI -- From November 26-December 4, 2005, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce David H. McCormick will travel to India to meet with senior government of India officials and representatives from Indian and U.S. industry.  Under Secretary McCormick's itinerary includes visits to Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai.

On November 30-December 1, Under Secretary McCormick and Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran will co-chair the U.S.-Indian High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) meetings in New Delhi.  The HTCG was formed in 2002 as part of the commitment made by the United States and India to transform its economic and strategic relationship.  The HTCG has focused on addressing a wide range of issues relevant to creating the conditions for more robust bilateral high-technology commerce, including tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and export licensing requirements for sensitive commodities. 

Since the formation of the HTCG, U.S. exports to India have nearly doubled - from $4.1 billion in 2002 to an estimated $8 billion in 2005.  Only approximately one percent of these exports require an export license.  In 2005, the United States approved over 91 percent of the applications for exports to India that did require a license. 

The HTCG meetings include a public-private forum on November 30 that will focus on bilateral trade in biotechnology, nanotechnology and defense trade.  The forum provides the opportunity for U.S. and Indian industry to identify barriers to successful high technology trade and recommend solutions for discussion during the government-to-government discussions on the following day.  For details on the public-private forum, contact either the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry or the Confederation of Indian Industry. 

In addition, Under Secretary McCormick is scheduled to meet with senior officials to discuss recent developments in U.S. export licensing policies for civil space and civil nuclear power programs in India.  In July 2005, President Bush and Prime Minister Singh announced the completion of the U.S.-India Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP).  Actions taken under the NSSP resulted in a 68 percent reduction in license applications for exports to civil space programs and freed up millions of dollars in related high technology trade.  The United State estimates that the completion of the NSSP will result in an additional 20-25 percent reduction in the number of license applications processed for exports to India in 2006.