United States, which has been witnessing a surge in exports from India, said on Monday that it was in favour of enhancing cooperation with New Delhi on WTO (World Trade Organisation) issues.

The issue came up for discussion during a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Shourie with the US Ambassador in India Robert Blackwill in New Delhi.

Blackwill, who called on Shourie, told PTI after the meeting that the US had conveyed its desire to step up cooperation on WTO issues.

"United States Trade Representative Robert Zoellick is also keen to see deeper cooperation between India and US on WTO issues," he said without specifying the issues.

Asked if he discussed issues pertaining to divestment, Blackwill said, "The minister just updated me on the issue."    Blackwill, who met met Finance Minister Jaswant Singh earlier in the day, will be visiting the US shortly.

As per the latest data from the US Department of Commerce, it is now almost certain that 2002 is likely to be the first year when the US merchandise imports from India would constitute more than one per cent of the total US merchandise imports.

India's merchandise exports to US registered an increase of nearly 37 per cent in October 2002 over the corresponding period the previous year.

Also, even as worldwide merchandise exports to the US during January-October 2002, declined by 0.7 per cent, only nine of the top 25 countries exporting to the US registered a growth in their exports of which India was a top performer with a growth of over 20 per cent.