Lok Sabha Question No. 243 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-20
Subject: Bilateral Trade between India and the US
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 243 (H)

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 th  MARCH, 2017

## BILATERAL TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND THE US

## *243 (H). PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of bilateral trade between India and the United States (US) during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether a new trade policy has been formulated between India and USA and if so, the details thereof along with the impact of new US regime on the bilateral trade/ trade agreements between the two countries;
- (c) whether Indian IT Sector/Industry bodies have raised concerns on the new US visa regime  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  reaction  of  the  Government thereto;
- (d) whether India has pitched for certainty and transparency in the US visa regime and if so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  safeguard  the  interests  of  Indian industry/IT Sector; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government to counter the impact of new US regime on India's trade relations with them?

## ANSWER

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THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- a) to  e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 243(H)   FOR ANSWER ON 20 th  MARCH, 2017 REGARDING ' BILATERAL TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND THE US '

- (a) :  The  bilateral  trade  between  India  and  the  US  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year (provisional figures for first three quarters) is as below:-

(In US$ Billion)

|                        |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 (Apr - Dec) |
|------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------------------|
| India's Export to US   |     39.14 |     42.44 |     40.33 |                 31.61 |
| India's Import from US |     22.5  |     21.81 |     21.78 |                 16.12 |
| Total Trade            |     61.64 |     64.26 |     62.11 |                 47.73 |
| Trade Balance          |     16.63 |     20.63 |     18.55 |                 15.49 |

(b): No, Madam.

(c) to (e) Yes,  Madam.  India is actively pursuing with United States (U.S.) and India's concerns on Visa issues were articulated during Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, 2016 as  well  as  Trade  Policy  Forum,  2016  held  with  U.S.  During  Trade  Policy  Forum  held  in October,  2016  USA  and  India  decided  to  continue  their  engagement  on  visa  issues  and reiterated their shared  resolve to facilitate the movement  of  professionals.  India is articulating its concerns regarding visa policy vigorously with the new administration in U.S. This  issue  was  also  taken  up  by  the  Commerce  &  Industry  Minister  recently  with  visiting Congressional  delegation  led  by  Mr.  Bob  Goodlatte  &  during  the  visit  of  Commerce Secretary & Foreign Secretary to U.S. during the 1 st week of March, 2017.

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