An American government delegation led by under secretary of the Department of Commerce Kenneth I Juster is touring various Indian cities as part of ongoing efforts by the two countries to further boost co-operation in high technology.
Juster and his team, was in Chennai on Monday, is in Hyderabad today and would be in Bangalore on Wednesday.
On November 20, Juster would co-chair with India's foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal a meeting of the Indo-US High Technology Cooperation Group in New Delhi.
The US delegation is in India to "promote" high technology business and to explain various aspects of high technology trade with America, "especially the available opportunities", US embassy spokesman David Kennedy told rediff.com. The delegation is "meeting both government and industry representatives", Kennedy added.
In Chennai, Juster demanded that India should fulfill its commitment to lower barriers for market access in high technology sectors. "It has to be a two-way street," Juster said, pointing out that in India globalisation means just more jobs for Indian technology workers in India and the US and not market access for US products.
Among the discrepancies pointed out by Juster was the duty-free import permission given for computer hardware from the US if it is for augmenting exports by Indian companies, while there is high tariffs on US computers imported for local consumers in India.
Juster also called on India to take firmer steps to curb proliferation of dual use technology.
During the Delhi meeting, the two sides would focus on trade controls and facilitations, and trade in dual use goods and technologies.
The two countries would also work towards finalising a formal agreement that officials believe would be a major breakthrough.
Under the proposed agreement, America would provide better access to India in civilian space and nuclear technologies and dual use technologies available in the US. In return India is expected to lift trade barriers that are discriminatory towards American companies.
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