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US agrees to 'listen' to India's concern on multilateral trade

United States has agreed to 'listen' to India's concern on multilateral trade issues particularly the need to address implementation of existing WTO (World Trade Organisation) agreement before any proposal for launch of new round of negotiations.

This was conveyed to the Union Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran by US trade representative Robert Zoellick during the former's recent visit to the United States, an external affairs ministry spokesperson told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Zoellick is scheduled to visit India in early August for further discussion on the issue apart from strengthening bilateral ties, the spokesperson said.

''We (India) are not for new round of negotiations'' without arriving at a consensus among the member countries of WTO. Implementation issues would have to be addressed upfront before talk of any new issues, Maran was quoted as saying to Zoellick.

''US is willing to listen to our concern'', Maran was assured by Zoellick during the visit. Zoellick would also try to understand the sensitivity of India on the issue of new round when he visits New Delhi, the spokesperson said.

The two countries would also further strengthen bilateral trade. India accounted for exports of $14 billion worth of goods to United States of which 3.5 billion dollars are accounted for software.

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